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TESTING 
FIRE 


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ALEXAN 
CORKEY 


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B.    F.     WENT3 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2006  with  funding  from 

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http://www.archive.org/details/testingfireOOcorkiala 


THE  TESTING  FIRE 


He  drew  her  towards  him,  and  she  did  not  resist. — Page  302. 


FIRE 

BY 

ALEXANDER 
CORKEY 

AUTHOR.  OF 
<^7W  VICTORS 
of  ALLAN  RUTLEDGE 


NEW  YORK 

THE  H.K. FLY  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  191 1,  by 
The  H.  K.  Fly  Company 


TO 

HENRY  F.  KIESER 

WHOSE   FRIENDSHIP   I   PRIZE 
AND  TO  WHOSE  COUNSEL    I  OWE  SO   MUCH 
THIS  BOOK  IS     RESPECTFULLY   DEDICATED 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I    An  Act  of  Mercy , n 

II    William  Durham  Has  a  Caller 21 

III  An  Evening  at  Waynor's 32 

IV  Peter  Legree 44 

V    An  Automobile  Ride 52 

VI    Harbison  Institute 61 

VII    Drawing  the  Battle  Lines 71 

VIII  Booker  T.  Washington  Visits  Dothan   ...    81 

IX    A  Negro  Orator 92 

X  A  Sunday  in  the  Woods  of  Alabama     ...    99 

XI    Legree's  Revenge  Begins 109 

XII    The  Fearful  Penalty 118 

XIII  Rev.  John  Durham,  of  Hambright     ....  126 

XIV  In  Tuscaloosa  Asylum 134 

XV  Jefferson  Lilly  Leaves  the  Asylum  ....  143 

XVI    The  Dreaded  Horror 154 

XVII    Startling  Revelations 164 

XVIII    The  Crisis  of  a  Life 175 

XIX    Back  in  Dothan 187 

XX    Blotting  Out  the  Color  Line 198 

XXI  New  Views  on  the  Race  Question    ....  208 

XXII    A  Long-remembered  Sermon 219 

XXIII  A  Man's  Good  Name 230 

XXIV  A  Stranger  in  Dothan 241 

XXV    The  Coming  of  the  Crisis 250 


CONTEXTS 


CHAPTER 

XXVI 

XXVII 

XXVIII 

XXIX 

XXX 


The  Fire  at  Harbison 259 

After  the  Fire 269 

A  Speech  that  Made  History 278 

The  Valley  of  the  Shadow 288 

Victory  for  the  South 299 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

He  drew  her  towards  him,  and  she  did  not  resist 

Frontispiece 

PACE 

"  Call  up  a  doctor  to  come  here  at  once  "...  19 
"  Take  it  back,"  he  thundered.  "  Take  it  back  "  .  49 
He  dashed  into  the  crowd  with  uplifted  cane    .      .Ill 


THE  AUTHOR'S  FOREWORD 

In  January,  a  few  years  ago,  a  young  man  took  the 
train  at  Chicago,  111.,  on  a  trip  to  Alabama,  where  he  ex- 
pected to  start  in  business.  As  he  passed  through  Illinois 
that  evening  there  was  a  blanket  of  snow,  a  foot  deep,  all 
over  its  fertile  prairies.  When  he  reached  Kentucky  the 
rain  was  falling  on  green  fields,  and  the  young  man  was 
reminded  of  the  land  of  his  birth,  the  Emerald  Isle.  As 
the  train  rushed  onward  toward  the  equator  signs  of  the 
springtime  multiplied,  and  soon  every  trace  of  winter 
was  gone.  In  southern  Alabama  he  found  roses  in  bloom 
and  perpetual  sunshine.  "  Here,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  is 
an  ideal  State."  And  well  he  might  praise  the  great  Cot- 
ton State!  With  its  rich  belts  of  agricultural,  mineral, 
cotton  and  lumber  lands,  Alabama  surpasses  almost  every 
other  State  in  its  variety  of  natural  resources,  while  the 
sunshine  of  winter  gives  a  climate  where  the  fierce  rigors 
of  a  Northern  sky  are  unknown.  Arrived  at  his  des- 
tination the  young  man  began  to  make  himself  at  home 
in  his  new  State.  At  first  he  was  charmed  with  every- 
thing. He  found  the  inhabitants  of  the  State  partly 
white  and  partly  black,  the  white  race,  as  was  natural, 
possessing  an  easy  mastery,  keen  in  intellect  and  strong 
with  the  rich  inheritance  of  a  thousand  years  of  Christian 
civilization.  But  the  black  race  seemed  needed  also, 
strong  in  brawn  and  genial  in  disposition,  and  he  could 
not  but  admire  the  dusky  laborers  who  toiled  happily 
under  the  warm  Southern  sun.     In  a  little  over  a  vear 


THE  AUTHOR'S  FOREWORD 

the  young  man  from  Ireland,  who  was  no  other  than  my 
own  brother,  had  become  acquainted  with  the  entire 
State.  His  travels,  both  for  business  and  for  pleasure, 
took  him  into  almost  every  city  and  town  in  the  Com- 
monwealth, and  he  came  to  know  the  life  of  the  people 
as  only  a  close  observer  could.  He  was  without  preju- 
dice toward  the  Southern  white  man,  for  he  was  not  a 
Northerner,  but  an  Irishman.  As  time  went  on  he  be- 
gan slowly  to  learn,  at  first  hand,  what  we  call  "  the 
Race  Problem."  From  personal  experience  he  can  tes- 
tify that  it  is  a  real  "  problem,"  which  it  will  take  many 
years  to  solve,  but,  as  he  is  a  Christian,  he  believes  there 
is  only  one  solution.  What  this  solution  is  will  be  found 
in  my  story,  "  The  Testing  Fire."  Large  portions  of  this 
story  have  been  suggested  by  the  actual  experiences  of 
my  brother  in  Alabama,  and,  as  a  whole,  the  story  is 
founded  on  fact,  as  every  Southerner  will  at  once  recog- 
nize. In  writing  this  story  I  have  used  much  reserve. 
It  will  be  some  time  yet  before  any  writer  can  tell  all  he 
knows  of  this  problem,  which  seems  destined  to  test  our 
nation  more  than  any  other  question  which  is  demanding 
a  solution. 


THE  TESTING   FIRE 


CHAPTER  I 

AN  ACT  OF   MERCY 

"  Whoa  !  whoa  there !    What's  the  matter  with  you  ?  " 

rA  grave-looking,  elderly  man,  driving  slowly  along  a 
country  road  near  Dothan,  Alabama,  awoke  from  a  pleas- 
ant reverie  and  sought  to  quiet  his  horse,  which  had  sud- 
denly taken  fright  and  nearly  upset  the  buggy,  turning 
quickly  to  one  side. 

"  Whoa !  whoa,  I  say !  he  continued,  looking  around 
to  see  the  cause  of  the  horse's  fright.  He  soon  discov- 
ered what  had  almost  caused  him  disaster.  A  black  man 
was  lying  insensible  by  the  roadside,  his  clothing  half  torn 
from  his  body  and  his  face  covered  with  blood. 

"  A  black  dog ! "  said  the  occupant  of  the  buggy,  who 
was  the  pastor  of  the  Calvary  Church,  of  Dothan,  Rev. 
William  Durham,  as  he  drove  the  still  frightened  horse 
past  the  fallen  negro. 

"  Don't  be  afraid,  Meg,"  he  went  on,  speaking  gently 
to  his  horse ;  "  that  black  rascal  can't  hurt  you  now. 
Someone  has  given  him  just  what  he  deserved,  I'm  sure." 

And  the  pastor  of  the  fashionable  Calvary  Church  of 
the  prosperous  city  of  Dothan  drove  on  in  a  ruffled  mood. 
His  pleasing  reverie  about  the  spiritual  prosperity  of  his 
church  had  been  rudely  interrupted  by  the  sudden  ap- 
pearance of  the  unconscious  African. 

11 


12  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  Ah ! "  he  exclaimed  bitterly,  speaking  to  himself 
aloud,  "  that  is  the  dark  shadow  that  is  over  all  Alabama. 
It  hangs  like  a  menacing  cloud  over  our  future.  The 
former  chattel  has  become  a  possible  if  not  an  actual 
brute." 

As  he  spoke  the  grave,  kindly  expression  which  was 
habitual  to  him  left  his  face.  His  eyes  shone  with  a 
steely  glare.  He  gnashed  his  teeth  together.  William 
Durham  seemed  to  change  into  another  man  altogether 
when  the  race  problem  of  the  South  came  into  his  mind. 
On  every  other  subject  he  was  calm  and  considerate,  but 
he  felt  that  it  would  be  treason  to  everything  good  in  his 
beloved  Southland  if  he  allowed  himself  to  think  dispas- 
sionately on  the  negro  question. 

He  was  only  a  boy  when  the  war  closed,  bringing  ruin 
to  Alabama  as  to  the  other  Southern  States.  His  father, 
wounded  in  battle,  died  shortly  after  Lee's  surrender  at 
Appomattox  Courthouse,  broken-hearted  and  despairing 
for  the  future.  The  valuation  of  property  in  Alabama 
fell  from  $792,000,000  in  i860  to  $202,000,000  in  1865. 

Worst  of  all,  he  remembered  with  the  vividness  of  all 
early  impressions  the  awful  black  government  of  the 
State  for  six  terrible  years,  from  1868  to  1874,  when  the 
State  debt  rose  from  $8,000,000  to  $25,000,000.  The 
deeds  of  the  "  carpet-baggers  "  were  burned  into  his  mem- 
ory as  with  a  red-hot  branding  iron.  He  could  never  for- 
get them.  These  old  days  were  now  long  since  past. 
The  "  carpet-bagger,"  a  not  unnatural  result  of  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  war,  had  disappeared  forever.  The  State 
of  Alabama  had  risen  from  its  poverty  to  wealth  and 
prosperity.  Its  marvelous  resources  of  agriculture,  cot- 
ton, coal  and  iron  had  been  developed  in  a  way  undreamt 
of  before  the  war  in  the  old  days  of  slave  labor.  Pow- 
erful cities  were  rising  on  every  hand. 


AN  ACT  OF  MERCY  13 

But,  as  far  as  the  negro  was  concerned,  William  Dur- 
ham still  lived  in  the  '70s.  He  had  been  a  member  of 
the  Ku  Klux  Klan  and  had  accompanied  bands  of  them, 
while  he  was  only  a  youth,  on  expeditions  where  the 
white  man  sternly  proved  his  right  to  rule  by  the  law 
of  the  naked  sword.  This  account  of  his  early  life  and 
its  tragedies  will  easily  explain  why  he  passed  by  the 
wounded  and  helpless  African  with  maledictions  on  his 
tongue.  Outside  the  small  circle  of  negroes  who  worked 
around  the  church  and  parsonage  as  servants,  whom  he 
treated  with  the  utmost  affability  and  even  respect,  the 
black  man  was  to  him  always  a  source  of  the  bitterest 
feeling.  Of  late  years  he  had  almost  ceased  to  go  North, 
as  had  been  his  custom  formerly,  so  fierce  had  his  dis- 
cussions become  with  his  Northern  friends,  who  tried  to 
show  him  that  the  negro  should  be  considered  as  a  possi- 
ble man,  rather  than  a  possible  and  actual  brute.  Such 
talk  meant  to  him  nothing  but  "  social  equality,"  and  this 
had  been  the  nightmare  of  his  life.  It  maddened  him  to 
hear  his  Northern  friends  call  him  "  provincial,"  and 
make  a  jest  of  "  social  equality  "  as  though  it  were  out- 
side the  limits  of  rational  discussion,  for  he  feared  its 
blighting  curse  day  and  night  as  a  horrible  possibility, 
and  even  as  a  coming  actuality  unless  the  line  between 
white  and  black  was  marked  in  every  way  exactly  like 
the  line  between  man  and  brute. 

For  this  reason  he  was  especially  opposed  to  the  policy 
of  the  philanthropists  of  the  North  who  were  insulting 
the  South  and  seeking  to  bridge  nature's  chasm  between 
the  negro  and  the  Anglo-Saxon  by  educating,  and  there- 
fore spoiling,  the  Africans.  An  educational  institution 
for  negroes  had  even  been  started  in  Dothan,  to  his  in- 
tense disgust. 

When  he  reached  his  comfortable  parsonage  that  after- 


14  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

noon  and  had  seated  himself  in  his  luxurious  study  it  took 
him  some  time  to  regain  his  equanimity  and  to  banish  the 
bitter  thoughts  which  the  wounded  negro  had  suggested. 
However,  after  reading  a  few  chapters  in  his  well-worn 
Bible  he  became  himself  again  and  proceeded  with  the 
preparation  of  his  annual  missionary  sermon,  which  was 
to  be  delivered  the  following  Sabbath  and  in  which  he 
was  planning  to  show  how  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ  over  all  the  world  was  the  only  hope  for  the  com- 
ing brotherhood  of  man. 

Half  an  hour,  or  less,  after  Rev.  William  Durham  had 
passed  by  the  unfortunate  negro,  who  had  been  lying  all 
that  time  half  dead  by  the  roadside,  another  citizen  of 
ODothan  drove  along  —  Mr.  Robert  Leavitt,  a  deacon  in 
the  Calvary  Church.  Just  as  the  deacon  approached 
him  the  black  man  moved  slightly  and  groaned  and  Mr. 
Leavitt  brought  his  horse  to  a  standstill.  He  was  de- 
bating what  to  do.  A  naturally  tender  heart  urged  him 
to  assist  the  poor  black  fellow,  but  on  second  thought  he 
drove  on  quickly,  saying  to  himself :  "  Some  other  black 
devil  will  come  along  soon  and  get  him.  I  think  that 
was  some  of  Peter  Legree's  work,"  he  went  on  musingly. 
"  I  remember  meeting  him  and  two  other  rough-looking 
fellows  this  afternoon.  Legree  is  carrying  things  too  far 
to  suit  me,  but  he  is  right  on  the  black  proposition  and 
I  guess  we  will  have  to  let  him  have  his  way.  The  white 
vote  must  be  kept  solid  at  every  cost,  or  we  will  have  a 
black  government  again,"  and  Deacon  Leavitt's  eyes  took 
on  the  same  steely  glare  that  was  observed  in  the  eyes  of 
his  pastor  as  he  thought  of  this  same  matter.  Deacon 
Leavitt  was  not  by  any  means  so  bitter  in  his  memories 
of  bygone  years  as  the  minister,  for  he  was  a  younger 
man  and  only  knew  of  the  black  government  by  hearsay, 


AN  ACT  OF  MERCY  15j 

but  he  was  at  one  with  him  in  all  his  general  conclusions 
in  regard  to  the  Afro-American. 

The  sound  of  Deacon  Leavitt's  rapidly  disappearing 
vehicle  awoke  to  consciousness  the  wounded  black  and 
he  stared  vacantly  around  him.  He  tried  to  rise,  but 
sank  back  helplessly  with  a  deep  groan  and  again  lapsed 
into  unconsciousness. 

A  few  moments  later  the  sound  of  a  trotting  horse  was 
heard,  and,  bowling  swiftly  along,  a  young  man  on  horse- 
back bore  down  on  the  scene.  Suddenly  catching  sight 
of  the  unconscious  man  he  pulled  up  his  horse  with  a 
jerk  and  dismounted.  Going  to  the  side  of  the  negro  he 
stood  looking  at  him  for  awhile. 

"  Poor  devil,"  he  said  at  last,  looking  around  to  see  if 
there  was  anyone  near  to  assist,  "  he's  about  used  up." 

"  By  George ! "  he  exclaimed  a  moment  later  as  he 
knelt  beside  him,  "  he  looks  enough  like  our  old  Pete  to 
be  the  good  old  fellow  himself.  I'm  no  saint,  I  con- 
fess, but  I'll  be  d if  I  leave  this  poor  black  devil  to 

die  like  a  dog  in  the  ditch.    What  can  I  do  ?  " 

He  paused  for  a  little  while,  and  then,  looking  at  the 
pool  of  blood  which  crimsoned  the  roadway,  he  ex- 
claimed :  "  He  needs  a  doctor  right  away  or  it  will  be 
too  late." 

He  laughed  a  little  to  himself  and  observed,  "  What 
would  Florence  Ashley  think  of  me  now  ?  "  as  he  lifted 
the  bleeding  victim  bodily  and  placed  him  astride  his 
horse. 

The  wounded  man  again  groaned  and  opened  his  eyes. 

"  What's  de  matter,  Massa  ?  "  he  asked,  gazing  in  as- 
tonishment at  the  horse  beneath  him  and  at  the  young 
man  by  his  side. 

"  Hold  on  the  best  you  can,  old  fellow,  and  I'll  try  to 


16  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

get  you  to  a  doctor  as  quickly  as  I  can,"  rejoined  the 
other  without  making  any  further  explanation. 

The  horse  started  on  a  quick  walk,  its  master  leading  it 
and  at  the  same  time  holding  on  as  best  he  could  the 
semi-unconscious  negro. 

The  strange  pair  were  met  by  several  carriages,  which 
turned  out  in  silence,  the  occupants  gazing  in  astonish- 
ment at  the  unusual  sight,  but  none  of  them  made  any 
offer  to  assist  the  youthful  humanitarian. 

The  young  man's  name  was  Jefferson  Lilly,  a  native  of 
'Alabama,  but  a  recent  arrival  in  Dothan.  His  father  had 
prospered  in  a  mining  venture  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  State,  and  at  his  rather  early  death  he  left  his  son  a 
large  property.  The  young  man's  mother  had  died  when 
he  was  a  boy  and  he  had  been  educated  away  from  home, 
finishing  up  his  education  with  a  year  in  Europe,  which 
year  of  travel  had  broadened  his  mind  and  opened  his 
eyes  to  many  things. 

He  was  in  no  regular  business  at  the  present  time,  but 
was  spending  a  few  months  in  Dothan,  largely  as  a  di- 
version, being  drawn  there  by  his  friendship  for  a  rising 
young  lawyer,  Donald  Shelby,  a  college  chum,  who  was 
introducing  him  to  Dothan  society  and  seeking  to  per- 
suade him  to  settle  down  in  that  community. 

"What  would  I  do  in  Dothan?"  Jefferson  Lilly  had 
asked  his  friend  when  this  was  proposed. 

"  We'll  soon  find  you  something  to  do,"  Donald  Shelby 
had  rejoined,  "  and  meanwhile  you  can  busy  yourself  cul- 
tivating the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Ashley." 

Jefferson's  eyes  had  flashed  at  this  retort,  as  the  chief 
reason  for  his  prolonged  visit  to  Dothan  was  the  charm 
of  Florence  Ashley's  presence.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  a  leading  lawyer,  a  bewitching  Southern  beauty  of  the 


AN  ACT  OF  MERCY  17 

Spanish  type,  and  Donald  had  introduced  them  to  each 
other  soon  after  Jefferson's  arrival. 

"  She  is  the  idol  of  all  the  young  men  in  Dothan,"  said 
Donald  in  his  hearty  Southern  way,  "  but  I  want  you  to 
show  these  Dothan  chaps  how  such  a  girl  is  won." 

Jefferson  was  interested  from  the  start.  The  trouble 
with  him  was  that  his  life  was  aimless.  Since  his  father's 
death  he  had  drifted  around,  having  no  definite  object 
for  which  to  live,  and  discontented  everywhere.  Just  be- 
fore he  came  to  Dothan  he  had  been  thinking  of  returning 
to  Europe  for  an  extended  visit.  But  from  their  first 
meeting  Florence  Ashley  had  awakened  a  response  in 
his  soul.  She  fulfilled  his  dream  of  what  a  beautiful 
girl  would  be  like.  He  began  to  dream  dreams.  They 
had  one  chord  in  common,  a  mutual  love  for  music.  Jef- 
ferson was  an  artist  with  his  violin  and  had  studied  un- 
der European  masters,  while  Florence  was  unusually 
gifted  as  a  piano  player.  Perhaps  it  was  the  influence 
the  girl  was  having  on  his  life  that  made  him  so  sus- 
ceptible to  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  negro  that  after- 
noon. He  had  spent  part  of  the  morning  in  her  com- 
pany, practicing  a  duet  which  they  were  to  render  a  few 
evenings  later  at  an  elaborate  social  function,  and 
thoughts  of  her  were  filling  his  soul  with  music.  He 
thought  of  her  as  he  lifted  the  half-dead  African  on  his 
horse,  but  he  well  knew  she  shared  every  Southern  preju- 
dice in  regard  to  color  and  he  was  very  doubtful  if  she 
would  be  pleased  at  his  attempt  to  lift  up  a  fallen  black. 
She  had  positively  refused  to  attend  any  social  gather- 
ings to  which  the  cultured  Northern  teachers  of  the 
Harbison  Freedmen's  Institute  were  invited.  This  was 
the  institution  which  had  so  aroused  the  ire  of  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Durham.     It  was  the  result  of  Northern  philan- 


18  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

thropy,  and  it  was  the  intention  of  its  founders  to  assist 
the  South  in  its  enormous  task  of  elevating  the  Afro- 
Americans,  but  Dothan  society,  and  Florence  Ashley  in 
particular,  made  no  pretense  of  hiding  their  contempt  for 
this  species  of  unwelcome  and  to  them  wholly  unneces- 
sary benevolence. 

It  was  only  about  a  mile  from  the  lonely  spot  where 
Jefferson  found  the  negro  to  Dothan,  but  it  seemed  a 
long  distance  to  the  youth,  and  as  he  came  nearer  town 
and  heard  some  of  the  comments  by  passers-by  on  his 
appearance  he  almost  regretted  his  humanitarianism. 

However,  he  was  not  the  man  to  quit  in  either  a  love 
suit  or  in  a  work  of  mercy,  and  his  travels  had  given 
him  a  certain  confidence  in  himself  which  enabled  him  to 
return  a  defiant  look  to  the  angry  glares  that  some  Dothan 
citizens  darted  at  him. 

Stopping  in  front  of  the  first  hotel  he  saw  he  again 
lifted  the  almost  unconscious  man  in  his  arms  and  car- 
ried him  through  the  open  doors  into  the  hotel  lobby. 
Before  he  had  time  to  say  a  word  he  heard  a  rough  voice 
exclaim :  "  Get  out  of  here  with  your  black  dog !  "  and 
the  hotel  keeper  came  from  behind  his  desk  with  an 
angry  glare  and  threatening  gestures. 

"  This  poor  devil  needs  a  doctor  right  away  or  he  is 
a  dead  man.  Let  me  lay  him  on  the  floor  till  I  call  a 
doctor  to  dress  his  wounds." 

"  Get  out  of  here,  I  tell  you !  "  yelled  the  now  thor- 
oughly aroused  hotel  man.  "  Get  out  of  here !  Let  the 
black  devil  die.  We  don't  need  him.  No  niggers  can 
enter  my  hotel." 

There  were  two  or  three  others  in  the  hotel  lobby, 
and  after  they  had  gotten  over  their  first  astonishment 
at  Jefferson's  audacity,  they  began  jeering  at  him  also. 
The  young  man  quickly  dropped  his  burden  on  the  floor 


^%x 


Call  III)  «1  doctor  to  romp  1-i^r^  if  r^n^a" 


AN  ACT  OF  MERCY  19 

and  whipping  a  revolver  out  of  his  pocket  he  pointed  it 
directly  at  the  hotel  keeper,  saying  with  stern  emphasis 
and  a  look  of  fury: 

"  Call  up  a  doctor  to  come  here  at  once  or,  by  God, 
you're  a  dead  man." 

There  was  a  gleam  almost  of  madness  in  Jefferson's 
eyes,  and  the  hotel  man  cowered  like  a  struck  dog. 

"  Hurry !  "  commanded  the  youth,  standing  over  the 
prostrate  black  form  and  awing  with  his  menacing  looks 
the  others  in  the  lobby. 

The  landlord,  thoroughly  frightened,  with  trembling 
hands  rang  the  telephone  and  summoned  a  doctor. 

u  Stand  behind  your  desk,  sir  1 "  again  commanded 
Jefferson,  when  the  hotel  man  tried  to  pass  out  of  a  side 
door  to  the  street.  In  a  few  moments  the  doctor  ap- 
peared and  took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance.  Without 
a  word  he  began  to  gently  dress  the  gaping  wounds  in 
the  negro's  head  and  body,  Jefferson  all  the  while  stand- 
ing guard  with  his  revolver. 

It  took  the  doctor  over  twenty  minutes  to  bind  up  the 
wounds  in  a  hasty  manner,  and  all  this  time  the  self- 
appointed  guardian  of  the  African  refused  to  allow  land- 
lord or  guest  in  the  hotel  to  move. 

When  he  had  finished  his  merciful  ministry,  the  phy- 
sician said  quietly : 

"  I  know  this  man.  I  will  take  him  to  his  home.  He 
is  Nafti's  father.     Nafti  works  for  me." 

Somewhat  surprised,  but  greatly  relieved,  Jefferson 
turned  over  the  African  to  the  kind-hearted  physician. 
His  brief  term  of  office  as  a  helper  of  the  negro  in  Ala- 
bama had  quickly  revealed  what  older  men  have  known 
for  a  long  time,  that  the  fate  of  the  African  in  the  world 
seems  to  be  to  make  white  men  quarrel  over  him.  After 
helping  the  patient,  who  had  now   somewhat  revived, 


20  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

into  the  doctor's  buggy,  Jefferson  returned  to  the  hotel, 
threw  a  $5  note  on  the  desk  and  started  out. 

The  hotel  man  had  somewhat  recovered  himself  and 
with  an  oath  he  pushed  back  the  bill,  saying :  "  I  don't 
want  your  money,  you  white  nigger." 

Jefferson  never  knew  himself  just  what  happened  after 
that.  The  insult  stung  him  to  madness.  He  rushed  at 
the  hotel  man,  threw  him  on  the  floor  and  seemed  about 
to  crush  the  life  out  of  him  when  the  frightened  by- 
standers interfered.  Jefferson  became  calmer.  "  You 
can  thank  your  stars  you  are  a  living  man,"  he  hissed 
sternly  to  the  prostrate  hotel  keeper.  "  You  have  a  heart 
blacker  than  the  skin  of  a  negro." 

Without  another  word,  and  leaving  the  money  lying 
on  the  floor,  he  strode  out  of  the  hotel,  mounted  his 
horse  and  galloped  away.  He  escaped  just  in  time,  for  a 
large  crowd  quickly  gathered,  and  had  Jefferson  been 
there  a  riot  must  have  resulted. 

Great  events  often  hang  on  small  causes.  One  spark 
of  fire  has  destroyed  a  great  city.  A  few  thoughtless 
words  have  ruined  a  most  promising  political  career.  A 
small  book,  written  by  a  woman,  has  been  the  occasion  of 
one  of  the  bloodiest  wars  in  history,  the  final  results  of 
which  will  be  as  lasting  as  time.  So  this  single  act  of 
unpremeditated  mercy  which  Jefferson  Lilly  showed  to 
a  half-dead  negro  brought  forth  results  which  were  as- 
tounding and  which  gave  Dothan  a  world-wide  name. 


CHAPTER  II 

WILLIAM   DURHAM    HAS  A  CALLER 

On  the  Sabbath  following  the  incidents  related  in  the 
previous  chapter  William  Durham  preached  his  annual 
missionary  sermon.  It  was  an  eloquent  and  convincing 
appeal,  and  the  large  congregation  listened  with  intense 
interest.  William  Durham  was  a  late  convert  to  the  for- 
eign mission  cause  of  his  church,  but  he  had  become  an 
enthusiastic  advocate  for  world-wide  missions  in  recent 
years,  especially  after  the  Ecumenical  Missionary  Con- 
ference held  in  New  York  City  in  1900. 

Benjamin  Harrison,  ex-President  of  the  United  States, 
presided  at  this  remarkable  gathering,  which  included 
Christian  leaders  from  almost  every  church  and  every 
land,  and  in  his  opening  speech  he  made  some  statements 
which  clung  to  William  Durham's  mind  like  the  flavor 
of  wine  to  a  vessel.  "  With  the  increase  of  commerce 
and  wealth,"  exclaimed  that  statesman,  "  the  stress  of  so- 
cial difficulties  is  not  relieved,  but  increases  in  all  the 
great  nations.  The  tendency  is  not  to  one  brotherhood, 
but  to  many.  Christ  in  the  heart  and  his  gospel  of  love 
and  ministry  in  all  the  activities  of  life  are  the  only 
cure." 

Mr.  Durham  repeated  these  words  in  his  sermon,  and 
eloquently  pleaded  with  the  congregation  to  support  the 
spread  of  Christ's  Gospel  everywhere.  "  The  nineteenth 
century  has  made  the  world  one  neighborhood,"  he  cried 

21 


22  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

out  in  prophetic  tones.  "  It  is  the  Christian  duty  of 
the  twentieth  century  to  make  the  world  one  brother- 
hood." 

It  was  a  fashionable  audience  that  greeted  the  minister 
that  day.  Dothan  society  attended  Calvary  Church  al- 
most exclusively.  All  were  following  the  sermon  with 
attention,  but  soon  after  he  began  Mr.  Durham  noticed 
a  stranger  eagerly  listening  to  him  from  the  Waynor  pew. 
The  Waynors  were  the  leaders  in  Dothan's  best  society 
—  wealthy,  cultured  and  devout.  Accompanying  them 
this  morning  was  a  young  lady  of  prepossessing  appear- 
ance, with  fresh,  young  face,  bright  eyes  and  ruby  lips. 
At  a  glance  one  could  tell  she  was  a  Northerner,  for  her 
beauty  was  altogether  distinct  from  the  Southern  type. 

If  Mr.  Durham  had  been  a  younger  man  the  earnest 
gaze  with  which  she  watched  his  every  movement  and 
the  eagerness  with  which  she  listened  to  his  discourse 
would  have  flattered  him,  but,  as  it  was,  he  was  per- 
plexed. During  the  sermon  he  kept  asking  himself,  when 
he  looked  her  way,  "  Who  is  she  ?  " 

At  the  close  of  the  service  he  pressed  forward  to  the 
Waynor  pew,  and  was  soon  introduced  to  the  interesting 
stranger. 

"  Mr.  Durham,"  said  Mrs.  Waynor,  "  this  is  my  niece, 
Miss  Rose  Atkinson,  from  Pittsburg,  Pa."  There  was 
a  shade  of  embarrassment,  unusual  in  Mrs.  Waynor's 
manner,  which  did  not  escape  Mr.  Durham's  notice,  and 
which  naturally  increased  his  perplexity. 

"  You  seem  to  be  able  to  enjoy  a  missionary  sermon," 
he  remarked,  after  Miss  Atkinson  had  expressed  her 
pleasure  at  being  permitted  to  be  present  on  the  occa- 
sion. , 

"  I  certainly  enjoyed  your  sermon  to-day.  Your  senti- 
ments are  beautiful,  so  beautiful.     I  want  to  thank  you 


WILLIAM  DURHAM  HAS  A  CALLER      23 

for  them.     I  am  pleased  to  hear  such  sermons  in  the 
South." 

Mr.  Durham's  perplexity  was  turning  to  pleasure.  "  I 
hope  your  niece  will  make  you  a  long  visit,"  he  said  to 
Mrs.  Way  nor  in  parting. 

Mrs.  Waynor  blushed  and  replied  with  some  confusion, 
"  We  do  not  have  much  control  over  Rose." 

"  There's  some  mystery  here,"  said  Mr.  Durham  to 
himself,  as  he  passed  on  to  greet  the  other  members  of  his 
church. 

Among  others  he  met  Jefferson  Lilly,  who  thanked  the 
minister  warmly  for  his  message.  "  I  am  not  a  church- 
man," said  the  young  fellow,  "  but  your  sermon  has  set 
me  to  thinking.     I  will  come  again." 

Jefferson  had  left  Dothan  on  the  very  evening  of  his 
exciting  experience  with  the  hotel  keeper,  making  a  short 
visit  to  Montgomery,  and  had  just  returned  early  that 
Sabbath  morning.  As  he  confessed  to  Mr.  Durham,  he 
was  not  a  churchman.  In  college  he  began  to  doubt  the 
value  of  religion,  and  being  an  honest  fellow  he  had 
dropped  out  of  all  church  connections.  But  that  morn- 
ing he  felt  something  within  him  urging  him  to  attend 
Calvary  Church.  It  may  only  have  been  a  desire  to  see 
Florence  Ashley,  who  sang  in  the  choir,  but  at  any  rate 
the  service  and  sermon  impressed  him  as  no  church  serv- 
ice had  done  since  his  boyhood  days. 

Like  Mr.  Durham  and  many  others  in  the  congrega- 
tion, he  had  noticed  the  young  Northern  beauty  in  the 
Waynor  pew,  and  as  he  passed  out  Mrs.  Waynor,  who 
had  met  him  at  a  social  function,  greeted  him  cordially 
and  introduced  him  to  Miss  Atkinson. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  here  to-day,"  said  Mrs.  Waynor. 
"  I  was  told  you  never  attended  church,  but  I  knew  that 
it  must  be  a  mistake." 


24  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  I  am  glad  to  be  here  to-day,"  he  responded.  "  That 
sermon  had  a  ring  about  it  which  attracts  me." 

"  How  delighted  I  am  to  hear  you  say  so ! "  said  Rose 
Atkinson  with  enthusiasm. 

"  My  niece  is  fanatical  on  missionary  subjects,"  said 
Mrs.  Waynor  with  the  same  kind  of  embarrassment  that 
puzzled  Mr.  Durham. 

Jefferson  noticed  it  also  and  wondered.  It  increased 
his  interest  in  Miss  Atkinson. 

The  next  day  Rev.  William  Durham  was  surprised  and 
pleased  to  receive  a  call  from  the  Northern  girl.  One 
of  the  younger  Waynor  girls  accompanied  her,  and  the 
maid  ushered  them  up  to  the  minister's  study. 

"  This  is  an  unexpected  pleasure,"  said  Mr.  Durham, 
as  he  bowed  his  visitors  to  their  seats. 

"  I  told  aunt  that  I  wanted  to  come  to  see  you  first  of 
all,"  began  the  girl  abruptly.  "  You  see  I  had  not  ex- 
pected to  join  any  Southern  church  during  my  stay  in 
Alabama,  but  your  sermon  showed  me  I  will  be  wel- 
comed by  you  at  least  as  a  fellow-member  in  the  Calvary 
Church." 

"  Do  you  expect  to  make  Dothan  your  home  for  some 
time?"  asked  Mr.  Durham  in  surprise. 

"  That  is  my  present  intention,  although  auntie  says 
she  hopes  it  is  only  a  temporary  fad  of  mine." 

Mr.  Durham  of  course  at  once  concluded  that  Miss 
Atkinson  had  come  South  to  make  her  home  with  her 
aunt  for  some  time,  and  he  was  naturally  desirous  of 
adding  such  an  enthusiastic  personality  to  the  member- 
ship of  Calvary  Church. 

"  We  shall  be  delighted  to  receive  you  as  a  member  of 
our  church,"  he  exclaimed  with  enthusiasm.  "  We  need 
your  help  here.  Most  of  our  young  ladies  are  too  much 
interested  in  social  matters  to  give  the  spiritual  side  of 


WILLIAM  DURHAM  HAS  A  CALLER      25 

their  lives  adequate  attention,  and  on  such  girls  as  Flor- 
ence Ashley  your  influence  is  just  what  is  needed." 

"  How  delightful  of  you  to  say  so !  Why,  auntie  didn't 
think  you  would  want  to  receive  me  as  a  member  at  all." 

"  Mrs.  Waynor  was  mistaken.  You  know,  Miss  At- 
kinson, after  all  the  Church  of  Christ  is  one  everywhere. 
We  have  the  same  Bible,  the  same  Gospel  and  the  same 
God." 

"  You  are  not  like  another  Rev.  Durham  I  met  some 
time  ago  in  Hambright,  North  Carolina,"  said  the  girl 
with  some  surprise. 

"  Have  you  ever  been  in  Hambright  ?  "  responded  the 
minister  quickly.  "  Why,  that  was  my  older  brother, 
John,  whom  you  met  there.  He  has  been  a  pastor  in 
Hambright  for  over  half  a  century." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  you  say  he  is  your  brother,"  an- 
swered the  girl  frankly.  "  He  seemed  to  me  to  have  a 
poor  influence  over  that  village,  judging  from  the  spirit 
of  the  people.  I  thought  him  a  bitter,  narrow  and  alto- 
gether antiquated  failure.  Pardon  me  for  saying  this, 
but  I  have  hard  work  to  keep  from  despising  him.  I 
cannot  imagine  him  to  be  really  a  brother  of  yours." 

Mr.  Durham  laughed  heartily,  and  replied,  "  You  must 
have  mentioned  the  word  '  negro '  to  brother  John  or  you 
would  not  have  formed  such  an  awful  opinion  about  him. 
Apart  from  that  subject  he  is  a  genial  and  lovable  man, 
but  I  acknowledge,"  added  the  minister,  growing  serious 
in  his  tone,  "  that  the  very  word  '  negro '  of  late  has 
seemed  to  sour  all  the  milk  of  human  kindness  in  his 
nature." 

"  Of  course,  I  talked  to  him  about  the  negro,"  said  the 
girl  with  spirit. 

Mr.  Durham  saw  that  he  had  for  the  moment  forgot- 
ten that  Miss  Atkinson  was  from  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  a 


26  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

total  ignorance  of  the  awful  menace  of  color  made  even 
the  best  people  unsympathetic  with  the  fearful  struggle 
the  whites  in  the  Southland  were  waging  for  the  very 
existence  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race.  He  determined  to 
turn  the  conversation  back  to  its  former  agreeable 
channel. 

"  So  you  expect  to  become  a  member  of  our  church 
while  you  are  in  Dothan  ?  "  he  said  after  a  brief  pause. 

"  Yes,  if  you  will  have  me." 

"  I  welcome  you  right  here  and  now,"  said  the  minister, 
reaching  out  his  hand  heartily.  "  We  can  arrange  to  re- 
ceive you  publicly  next  Sabbath.  I  expect  you  have  your 
church  letter  with  you." 

All  this  time  the  young  Waynor  girl,  a  miss  of  about 
fifteen  years  of  age,  had  been  amusing  herself  looking  at 
an  illustrated  magazine.  She  had  heard  the  conversa- 
tion, but  had  taken  no  part  in  it  whatever  until  just  now, 
when  she  heard  Miss  Atkinson  say :  "  Auntie  told  me  it 
would  be  of  no  use  to  bring  my  church  letter  or  I  should 
have  brought  it  with  me  from  Pittsburg,  but  I  can  write 
for  it  at  once.  I  wonder  what  made  auntie  think  you 
did  not  want  me  for  a  church  member?" 

"  I  think,  cousin,"  said  the  Waynor  miss  innocently, 
"  it  was  because  you  were  going  to  teach  at  the  Harbison 
Institute." 

"  What !  "  It  was  Mr.  Durham  who  almost  shouted 
out  this  word.  The  color  had  left  his  face  and  he  was 
pale  as  death.  His  teeth  came  together  like  a  steel  trap. 
His  eyes  stared  madly.  He  clenched  his  hands  and  fell 
back  in  his  chair,  as  horrified  as  Macbeth  was  at  the  ap- 
parition of  Banquo's  ghost. 

Rose  Atkinson  was  frightened.  She  was  sure  the 
good  minister  had  suddenly  been  stricken  with  a  par- 
oxysm of  pain  or  a  stroke  of  apoplexy. 


WILLIAM  DURHAM  HAS  A  CALLER      $& 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Mr.  Durham  ?  "  she  asked  ex- 
citedly. 

The  minister  began  to  recover  himself,  but  he  did  not 
speak  for  a  few  moments.  His  breathing  came  heavily 
and  he  seemed  utterly  exhausted.  Finally,  after  a  tense 
silence,  he  turned  to  Rose  with  a  look  of  pathos  in  his 
eyes  which  she  never  forgot,  and  said  plaintively,  "  It  is 
not  true,  is  it?  " 

M  What  is  not  true  ?  "  she  inquired  in  amazement. 

"  It  is  not  true  what  your  cousia  has  just  said,  that 
you  are  going  to  teach  in  the  Harbison  Institute,  and 
throw  your  life  away  on  those  niggers."  The  last  word 
was  hissed  out  contemptuously. 

Now  was  the  time  for  Rose  Atkinson  to  make  a 
startling  discovery.  This  awful  change  of  manner,  which 
made  the  minister  an  altogether  different  man,  had  come 
over  him  the  moment  he  knew  she  was  about  to  lend  a 
hand  to  help  lift  up  a  prostrate  race.  She  saw  it  all  in  a 
flash  like  lightning,  and  she  was  almost  blinded  by  the 
revelation.  Very  evidently  Mr.  Durham  had  been  en- 
tirely ignorant  of  her  purpose  in  coming  to  Dothan  or 
she  would  have  met  with  a  very  different  reception  from 
him.  John  Durham,  of  Hambright,  and  William  Dur- 
ham, of  Dothan,  were  brothers  in  spirit  if  not  in  appear- 
ance. She  was  disappointed,  bitterly  disappointed.  The 
sermon  of  the  previous  day  had  thrilled  her  soul  and 
lifted  up  her  hopes.  She  had  believed  that  Mr.  Durham 
knew  all  the  time  she  was  expecting  to  devote  her  life  to 
the  work  of  Harbison  Institute,  and  she  was  delighted 
that  her  aunt's  pastor  had  received  her  so  favorably  in 
spite  of  this  fact.  But  now  all  her  dreams  of  Christian 
fellowship  in  his  church  were  ended.  She  knew  well 
from  his  manner  that  to  teach  in  Harbison  Institute  was, 
in  his  eyes,  a  crime  against  the  Southland  and  the  whole 


528  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Anglo-Saxon  race.  Mr.  Durham  also  could  see  that  she, 
as  well  as  himself,  had  been  misled,  and  that  now  she 
was  beginning  to  understand  his  position  toward  her 
work  on  behalf  of  the  negro. 

He  watched  her  expression  of  surprise  change  to 
one  of  dismay,  as  she  realized  her  isolation  and  his 
feelings  toward  her  purpose  to  assist  a  despised  race. 
She,  too,  became  pale,  her  frame  shook,  tears  sprang  to 
her  eyes,  and  in  another  moment  she  was  sobbing  con- 
vulsively. 

This  was  too  much  for  Mr.  Durham.  He  was  a 
Southern  gentleman.  A  lady  in  tears  melted  him  as 
snow  melts  beneath  the  warm  Alabama  sun. 

"  My  poor  girl ! "  he  said,  rising,  and  going  over  to 
where  she  sat,  "  I  am  sorry  I  have  been  compelled  to 
grieve  you." 

"  I  had  hoped  from  your  sermon  to  find  you  so  dif- 
ferent," she  sobbed. 

"  If  you  had  lived  as  long  in  the  South  as  I  have  you 
would  feel  exactly  as  I  do,"  he  answered  with  assurance. 

Rose  did  not  reply  for  a  few  moments,  but  sought  to 
calm  herself,  and  regain  her  self-control.  She  dried  her 
tears. 

"  Mr.  Durham,"  she  began,  "  yesterday  you  urged  your 
people  to  spread  the  Gospel  over  the  world  so  that  hu- 
manity might  become  one  brotherhood.  Is  the  negro  in 
Africa  to  become  our  brother,  while  the  negro  in  America 
is  classed  with  the  brutes  ?  " 

"  My  dear  Miss  Atkinson,"  responded  Mr.  Durham 
with  less  heat  than  he  had  ever  before  discussed  the  negro 
question,  "  you  do  not  understand.  None  of  the  North- 
ern Christians  understand  our  awful  problem  in  the 
South.  What  your  '  schools  for  Freedmen,'  as  you  call 
them,  really  teach  is  an  impossible  social  equality  between 


WILLIAM  DURHAM  HAS  A  CALLER       29 

us  and  a  race  which  came  but  yesterday  from  the  savagery 
of  the  African  jungles.  You  are  trying  to  force  on  the 
South  an  impossible  social  order  that  will  bring  blood 
and  ruin  on  our  children." 

"  Listen  to  me,  Mr.  Durham,"  replied  the  girl,  sitting 
up  straight  and  looking  him  full  in  the  eye :  "If  Christ 
came  into  your  Southland  to-day  would  he  not  befriend 
the  African  just  as  he  did  the  despised  Samaritan  at  the 
well  of  Sychar?  Would  he  close  his  ears  to  the  cry  of 
the  poor  blacks,  so  horribly  wronged  during  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  of  unrequited  toil,  as  they  ask  for 
a  chance  to  make  the  most  of  the  lives  that  God  has  given 
them  ?  Would  Christ  turn  furious  because  he  knew  that 
I  was  giving  up  a  life  of  luxury  and  ease  to  help  educate 
the  head,  heart  and  hand  of  ignorant  negroes?  No,  sir. 
He  would  say  to  me,  in  tenderest  sympathy :  '  Inasmuch 
as  you  have  done  it  unto  one  of  these,  the  least  of  all 
my  brethren,  you  have  done  it  unto  me.'  Mr.  Durham," 
and  the  girl  spoke  with  terrible  earnestness,  "you  are 
not  Christ's  representative  in  Dothan  in  the  spirit  you 
show  to  the  poor,  unfortunate,  ignorant  African  at  your 
door." 

"  But  my  dear  girl,"  protested  the  minister,  rather 
awed  by  her  vehemence,  "  you  forget  the  awful  menace 
of  social  equality  and  what  that  means  to  our  whole 
Anglo-Saxon  race.  Do  you  not  see  that  you  are  a  child 
playing  with  matches  in  a  powder  factory  ?  " 

The  girl  looked  earnestly  at  the  minister.  His  look 
of  passion  had  been  replaced  by  his  habitual  glance  of 
thoughtful  kindliness. 

"  I  think  I  am  beginning  to  understand  now  what  is 
the  matter  in  your  case,  sir,"  she  said  slowly.  "  You 
think,  don't  you,  Mr.  Durham,  that  to  elevate  the  negrq 
is  to  risk  a  mulatto  citizenship  in  America." 


30  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  Precisely,"  responded  the  other  quickly. 

Rose  Atkinson  stood  up  and  faced  the  pastor  of  Cal- 
vary Church.  Her  eyes  sparkled  like  diamonds,  her 
cheeks  were  flushed,  her  ruby  lips  trembled  a  moment, 
and  then  she  began  to  speak  with  an  intensity  that  thrilled 
her  listener. 

"  You  are  wrong,  Mr.  Durham,  absolutely  and  most 
assuredly  wrong.  A  mulatto  citizenship  will  come  a 
great  deal  sooner  from  your  present  method  of  holding 
down  the  negro  in  his  primitive  ignorance  and  degrada- 
tion, for  by  doing  this  you  are  lowering  the  white  race, 
and  all  history  proves  that  white  and  black  mix  on  the 
lower  not  on  the  higher  levels.  Let  the  white  man  en- 
noble himself  by  seeking  to  lift  up  the  weaker  race  and 
the  two  races  will  become,  as  Booker  T.  Washington 
has  said,  '  as  separate  as  the  fingers  in  all  matters  purely 
social,  but  one,  as  the  hand,  in  all  things  essential  to  mu- 
tual progress.'  Unless  you  are  converted  to  Christ's 
principles  on  the  race  problem,  Mr.  Durham,  you  are  a 
positive  factor,  and  so  is  your  brother  in  Hambright,  in 
bringing  the  curse  of  mulattoism  to  the  beautiful  South- 
land." 

And  she  passed  out,  leaving  Rev.  William  Durham 
pondering  over  new,  strange  thoughts. 

An  hour  later  he  was  still  sitting  as  she  had  left  him, 
his  head  bowed  in  his  hands.  There  had  come  to  his 
mind  a  picture  of  a  wounded,  half-dead  negro  whom  he 
had  ignored  a  few  days  before,  and  as  he  thought  of  it  he 
recalled  an  old  story  about  a  wounded  man  who  lay 
on  the  roadside  between  Jerusalem  and  Jericho.  A  tear 
came  to  his  eye.  He  remembered  Rose  Atkinson's 
words :  "  You  are  not  Christ's  representative  in  Dothan 
in  the  spirit  you  show  to  the  unfortunate  African  at  your 
door." 


WILLIAM  DURHAM  HAS  A  CALLER      31 

He  looked  up  helplessly  at  last  and  heaven  never  heard 
a  more  earnest  cry  from  a  perplexed  soul  than  his  as  he 
he  said :  "  If  I  have  been  false  to  my  Christ,  may  God 
forgive  me." 


CHAPTER  III 

AN   EVENING  AT   WAYNOR'S 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  in  which  Rose  Atkinson 
had  called  on  the  pastor  of  the  Calvary  Church  one  of 
the  chief  social  events  of  the  year  took  place  at  the  Way- 
nor  mansion.  This  magnificent,  Southern  home  was  on 
the  outskirts  of  the  town,  surrounded  by  a  large,  wooded 
park,  which  was  beautified  with  driveways. 

A  famous  singer  from  New  Orleans  was  to  be  the 
guest  of  honor,  but  Mrs.  Waynor  planned  also  to  make 
it  the  occasion  for  the  debut  of  her  niece  in  Dothan  so- 
ciety. 

When  Rose  first  proposed  to  come  to  Dothan  with  a 
view  to  teaching  in  Harbison  Institute  Mrs.  Waynor  re- 
fused to  consider  it  at  all,  as  she  well  knew  it  would 
mean  trouble  in  the  hitherto  smooth  waters  of  her  social 
life.  But  a  visit  which  she  made  to  Pittsburg  and  an 
interview  with  her  niece  convinced  her  that  Rose  was 
a  girl  with  an  earnest  ambition  to  be  of  some  use  in  the 
world,  and  she  had  already  decided  she  would  teach  in 
some  other  Freedmen  institute  if  her  aunt  objected  to  her 
going  to  Dothan. 

With  many  misgivings  Mrs.  Waynor  consented  at  last 
to  receive  Rose,  but  she  kept  it  secret  from  her  friends 
what  the  purpose  of  her  niece  was  in  coming  South. 
The  professors  and  teachers  of  Harbison  Institute  were 
left  severely  alone  by  the  social  leaders,  but  Mrs.  Way- 


AN  EVENING  AT  WAYNOWS  33 

nor,  with  some  justifiable  self-confidence,  was  assured 
that  Rose  would  at  least  be  tolerated  for  her  sake. 

The  guests  on  this  particular  occasion  began  to  assem- 
ble early  and  soon  a  large  company  had  gathered,  promi- 
nent among  the  younger  guests  being  Jefferson  Lilly,  Don- 
ald Shelby  and  Florence  Ashley.  Mrs.Waynor  took  pains 
to  introduce  Rose  to  Miss  Ashley  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  two  young  ladies  were  in  marked  contrast.  The 
fair-haired,  rosy-cheeked,  Northern  belle  was  greeted 
cordially  by  the  dark-eyed  Southern  beauty.  Florence 
Ashley  was  radiant.  Her  gown  was  more  decollete  than 
the  dress  of  the  other,  and  the  charms  of  her  shapely 
shoulders  and  arms  were  but  thinly  veiled  with  the  most 
delicate  lace.  She  was  conscious  of  her  power  and  bore 
herself  with  the  majesty  of  a  queen.  But  Rose  was  also 
resplendent  that  evening.  Her  aunt  was  exceedingly 
anxious  that  she  should  make  a  good  impression,  and 
at  her  request  she  was  attired  in  her  richest  gown. 

"  Tell  me,  Jefferson,"  said  Donald  Shelby  to  Mr.  Lilly 
early  in  the  evening,  "  are  there  many  girls  in  those 
Northern  States  as  beautiful  as  Mrs.  Waynor's  niece? 
You  have  traveled  a  good  deal  up  there." 

"  She  is  one  of  a  thousand,  I  assure  you,"  rejoined  his 
friend.  "  Lay  siege  to  her  heart.  I  hear  she  is  a  million- 
aire in  her  own  right." 

"  Yes,  but  I  also  heard  to-day,  on  pretty  good  author- 
ity, that  she  has  come  to  Dothan  expecting  to  teach  in 
Harbison  Institute.  If  that  is  so,  even  her  connection 
with  Mrs.  Waynor  will  not  save  her  from  social  ship- 
wreck." 

"  She  looks  like  a  girl  who  could  take  care  of  herself 
anyhow,"  said  Jefferson.  "  I'm  beginning  to  think  they 
carry  these  things  too  far  in  Dothan,  ostracizing  every- 
one who  tries  to  help  along  a  poor,  black  devil." 


3*  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  Take  care,  Jefferson,"  his  companion  answered  with 
a  grave  shake  of  his  head.  "  Don't  let  Miss  Ashley  hear 
you  make  any  such  statement  or  she  will  cut  you  dead." 

Florence  Ashley  and  Rose  Atkinson  were  engaged 
in  a  lively  conversation  at  the  other  end  of  the  room. 
Jefferson  was  looking  in  their  direction,  and  he  ex- 
claimed :  "  By  Jove,  Donald,  isn't  that  a  pretty  sight !  " 
The  two  girls,  so  different  in  appearance  and  in  ideals  of 
life,  had  yet  much  in  common.  Both  were  the  consum- 
mate flowers  of  our  Anglo-Saxon  womanhood.  Both 
were  beautiful ;  each  a  queen  in  her  own  realm  of  beauty. 
Rose,  who  had  traveled  widely  at  home  and  abroad,  was 
telling  her  companion  of  some  of  her  recent  trips. 

"  I  have  never  traveled  outside  our  own  dear  South- 
land," said  Florence  Ashley.  "  To  me  it  is  the  world, 
and  all  the  world  I  want  to  know."  Rose  looked  at  her  a 
moment,  and  then  said  gently :  "  No,  the  South  is  only 
part  of  the  world,  a  lovely  part,  but  you  will  find  that 
this  is  a  more  wonderful  world  than  you  ever  dreamed 
it  to  be  when  you  have  visited  other  lands  and  mingled 
with  strange  peoples." 

"  I  have  no  interest  in  travel  whatever,"  said  the  other 
with  a  slight  shrug  of  her  beautiful  shoulders.  "  One 
meets  so  many  vulgar  people  on  the  trains  and  boats 
when  traveling  nowadays." 

"  All  kinds  of  people  are  interesting  to  me,"  rejoined 
Rose  with  some  spirit.  "  I  feel  a  sympathy  always  for 
the  less  favored  ones.  At  heart,  you  know,  all  people 
are  very  much  alike." 

Just  then  Mrs.  Waynor  came  and  led  off  Miss  Ashley, 
somewhat  to  that  young  lady's  relief,  to  the  piano,  where 
Jefferson  Lilly  joined  her  with  his  violin  in  his  hand ; 
and  together  they  played  an  instrumental  duet.  The 
music  was   difficult,  requiring  art  and  skill,  and  their 


AN  EVENING  AT  WAYNOR'S  35 

rendition  was  perfect,  but  Rose  was  disappointed,  al- 
though she  could  not  but  admire  the  art  of  the  musicians. 
"  But  it  is  like  Tennyson's  Maud,"  she  said  to  herself, 
1  faultily  faultless.' " 

When  Jefferson  left  Donald  Shelby's  side  to  join  Miss 
Ashley  at  the  piano  Donald  was  approached  by  Peter 
Legree,  another  of  the  guests  of  the  evening.  Legree 
was  the  "  boss  "  who  had  complete  control  of  Dothan's 
politics.  His  one  chief  qualification  for  this  place  of 
power  was  his  brutal  contempt  for  "  niggers,"  as  he  al- 
ways called  the  Afro-Americans.  By  browbeating  and 
terrifying  even  the  more  intelligent  negroes  he  had  prac- 
tically disfranchised  the  negro,  and  then,  with  the  con- 
stant cry  of  "  black  government,"  he  kept  the  white 
voters  in  line  election  after  election.  To  oppose  Legree 
was  to  gain  the  opprobrium  of  favoring  the  "  nigger," 
and  this  was  instant  political  death.  Under  his  control 
only  one  base  and  ugly  word  can  describe  conditions  — 
rotten. 

He  was  now  rapidly  acquiring  wealth  and  was  seeking 
to  force  his  way  into  society ;  but  although  he  was  able 
to  gain  invitations  to  social  functions,  his  low  character 
was  too  well  known  to  make  him  a  welcome  guest. 
Florence  Ashley  despised  him,  although  he  was  an  ardent 
suitor  for  her  favor,  but,  in  common  with  the  rest,  she 
looked  on  him  as  the  bulwark  of  the  white  government, 
and  so  tolerated  him  as  an  unwelcome  necessity. 

His  constant  efforts  to  heap  insult  and  ignominy  on 
everything  "  black  "  was  the  one  white  spot  in  his  char- 
acter in  her  eyes. 

"  Shelby,  who  is  that  dude  at  the  piano  with  Miss 
Ashley  ?  "  Legree  asked  abruptly  as  Florence  and  Jeffer- 
son began  to  play. 

"  He  is  a  friend  of  mine  from  the  northern  part  of 


36  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

the  State  —  Jefferson  Lilly.  He  has  been  here  for  some 
time.     Haven't  you  met  him  yet  ?  " 

"  No,  and  I  don't  want  to  meet  him.  He  is  the  guy 
that  Larkin,  the  hotel  keeper,  is  after.  You  had  better 
tell  him  to  clear  out  of  Dothan.  We  don't  want  any  of 
his  kind  here." 

"  What's  the  matter  now  ?  "  asked  Donald  Shelby  in 
alarm.  He  well  knew  that  Legree's  dictum  was  omnipo- 
tent, and  that  if  he  ordered  his  friend  out  of  town  it 
meant  trouble  for  Jefferson  unless  he  went  at  once.  Even 
Caesar  in  Rome  was  not  as  absolute  a  master  as  Legree 
in  Dothan. 

"  He  brought  a  slashed  nigger  into  the  hotel  last  week 
and  made  Larkin  call  up  a  doctor  at  the  point  of  his 
gun.  That  kind  of  thing  don't  go  in  Dothan.  If  your 
friend  doesn't  leave  town  inside  of  a  week  Larkin  will 
have  him  jailed.     Remember,  I  mean  it." 

Donald  Shelby  was  now  thoroughly  aroused.  He 
knew  nothing  of  Jefferson's  act  of  mercy  to  the  wounded 
negro,  as  they  had  not  met  since  it  had  happened,  until 
that  evening,  but  he  well  knew  that  the  cunning  Legree 
must  have  some  grounds  for  his  charge,  and  he  knew 
how  indifferent  Jefferson  sometimes  was  to  the  proprie- 
ties if  something  needed  to  be  done. 

Donald  despised  Legree  as  a  man,  and  had  quietly 
been  working  to  oust  him  from  power  in  Dothan,  and 
Legree  knew  it.  The  "  boss  "  was  secretly  pleased  to 
have  found  a  weak  spot  in  his  enemy's  armor,  and  he 
chuckled  to  see  the  real  anxiety  that  was  now  depicted 
on  Shelby's  face.  Legree  felt  that  he  was  going  to  be 
able  to  kill  two  birds  with  one  stone  —  humiliate  a  po- 
litical rival  and  also  drive  out  of  Dothan  the  man  who 
was  evidently  gaining  a  place  in  the  favor  of  Miss  Ashley. 


AN  EVENING  AT  WAYNOR'S  37 

"  I  will  bring  Mr.  Lilly  round  to  see  you  to-morrow. 
I  am  sure  he  has  given  no  just  cause  for  such  treat- 
ment," pleaded  Donald.  "  He  is  a  native  of  northern 
Alabama  and  well  knows  how  to  keep  the  blacks  in  their 
place." 

"  I  tell  you  I  don't  want  to  see  him.  Tell  him  to  leave 
Dothan  in  a  week  or  take  the  consequences,"  and  Legree 
moved  off  to  greet  Mrs.  Waynor.  Meanwhile,  after 
their  musical  number  and  the  encore  were  finished,  Jeffer- 
son and  Florence  Ashley  had  gone  out  on  the  wide,  colo- 
nial porch.  It  was  a  beautiful  night.  Above  them  the 
stars  shone  like  patines  of  pure  gold.  The  air  was  calm 
and  still.  An  Alabama  night  in  springtime  is  a  foretaste 
of  paradise. 

"  Let  us  go  to  the  arbor,"  said  Jefferson,  leading  the 
way  to  a  rustic  seat,  heavily  shaded  with  large  ever- 
greens, out  on  the  spacious  lawn. 

"  I  am  glad  to  get  away  from  the  crowd  for  a  mo- 
ment," said  the  girl.  "  How  cool  and  delightful  it  is  out 
here ! " 

Jefferson  was  happy.  Altogether  ignorant  of  the  black 
cloud  that  hung  over  his  immediate  future,  he  sat  back 
in  the  shade  and  whispered :  "  This  is  beauty's  bower. 
I  must  be  a  favorite  of  the  gods  to  be  allowed  to  enter  it 
with  you." 

"  No  flattery  to-night,  Mr.  Lilly,"  she  answered,  tap- 
ping him  lightly  with  her  fan.  "  Have  you  met  Mrs. 
Waynor's  niece  yet?" 

"  Yes ;  I  met  her  last  Sunday  at  church.  She  seems 
to  me  to  be  something  of  a  mystery,  although  she  is  a 
Pennsylvania  rose,  all  right." 

Florence  frowned  slightly  in  the  darkness.  Jefferson 
could  not  see  it,  but  he  noticed  a  little  petulance  in  her 


38  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

tone  as  she  said :  "  She  is  a  conundrum  to  me,  a  sort 
of  wiseacre,  I  think;  but  I  suppose  the  young  men  of 
Dothan  will  go  wild  after  her." 

"  Not  when  they  know  that  she  teaches  in  Harbison 
Institute." 

"  Teach  in  Harbison  Institute !  What  do  you  mean, 
sir?"  said  his  companion  in  amazement. 

"  I  have  heard  she  came  to  Dothan  for  that  purpose." 

Florence  laughed  heartily.  "  You  silly  boy ;  what  made 
you  believe  such  nonsense?  Mrs.  Waynor  would  never 
allow  it.     Such  a  thing  is  absurd." 

Jefferson  was  silent.  "  Did  you  meet  Mr.  Legree 
yet  ?  "  asked  the  girl.  "  I  see  he  is  present  this  evening. 
He  is  foolish  about  me,  but  I  can't  bear  him." 

"  Who  is  Legree  ?  "  asked  Jefferson  quietly. 

"  I  saw  him  watching  you  with  no  gentle  stare  when 
we  were  leaying  the  piano  a  moment  ago.  He  is  the 
political  leader  here,  a  low  fellow ;  but  we  tolerate  him 
because  he  knows  how  to  keep  the  negroes  in  their  place." 

Just  then  the  sound  of  approaching  footsteps  was 
heard,  and  they  kept  still  while  Donald  Shelby  and  Rose 
Atkinson,  who  were  taking  a  short  stroll  in  the  open  air, 
passed  the  bower,  walking  toward  the  house. 

"  Mr.  Shelby,"  Miss  Atkinson  was  saying,  with  her 
distinct  Northern  accent,  "  do  you  know  that  young  man 
who  played  the  violin  to-night  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  he  is  a  friend  of  mine,  visiting  in  Dothan  for  a 
short  time.     How  did  you  like  him  ?  "  Donald  answered. 

The  listeners  held  their  breath  to  hear  the  answer  of 
Rose. 

"  I  liked  him  better  than  I  did  his  music.  He  seems 
to  me  to  be  a  young  man  of  much  promise.  I  met  him 
for  a  moment  at  the  church.  His  music,  though,  lacked 
life  and  spirit." 


AN  EVENING  AT  WAYNOR'S  39 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  *  spirit '  in  music  ?  "  Donald 
was  saying  as  they  passed  out  of  hearing. 

Florence  Ashley  laughed  heartily. 

"  You  see,  you  have  won  the  heart  of  your  '  Pennsyl- 
vania rose'  already,"  she  remarked,  but  Jefferson  was 
silent.  He  was  thinking  of  her  criticism  of  his  playing 
and  what  she  meant  by  it.  He  put  out  his  hand  to  rise, 
but  as  he  did  so  it  touched  the  soft,  warm  hand  of  his 
companion.  The  effect  was  like  the  touch  of  a  magician's 
wand.  He  forgot  everything  else  in  the  world,  and 
thought  only  of  the  beautiful  girl  by  his  side.  Drawing 
her  hand  to  his  lips  he  kissed  her  jeweled  fingers  raptur- 
ously, saying:  "I  do  need  life  and  enthusiasm,  and  I 
can  find  it  in  you,  in  you  alone." 

Florence  was  taken  by  surprise.  She  left  her  hand 
in  his  for  one  glad  moment,  and  that  brief  pause  told  her 
companion  that  his  suit,  at  least,  was  not  repulsive. 
Then,  hastily  withdrawing  her  hand,  she  arose,  say- 
ing: 

"  Let  us  go  back  to  the  house.  We  have  stayed  out 
here  too  long." 

The  singer  from  New  Orleans  had  just  finished  a  song 
as  they  stepped  inside  the  door,  and  Rose  Atkinson  was 
going  forward  to  entertain  the  company. 

"  Perhaps  when  we  hear  her  sing  we  can  tell  what  she 
meant  by  music  with  '  spirit '  in  it,"  said  Florence  to 
Jefferson,  as  they  stood  near  the  door.  Soon  Rose  began 
to  sing.  A  rich,  contralto  voice,  surpassing  in  its  vel- 
vety tones  that  of  the  New  Orleans  prima  donna,  floated 
over  the  company.  She  had  chosen  as  her  song  Madeline 
Bridges'  poem,  "  The  Best  You  Have,"  set  to  a  recent 
adaptation  of  charming  though  difficult  music.  She 
threw  her  whole  soul  into  the  rendition,  and  the  audience 
listened,  spellbound,  as  she  sang  verse  after  verse: 


40  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"There  are  loyal  hearts,  there  are  spirits  brave, 
There  are  souls  that  are  pure  and  true; 
Then  give  to  the  world  the  best  you  have, 
And  the  best  will  come  back  to  you. 

Give  love,  and  love  to  your  life  will  flow, 

A  strength  in  your  inmost  need ; 
Have  faith,  and  a  score  of  hearts  will  show 

Their  faith  in  your  word  and  deed. 

Give  truth  and  your  gift  will  be  paid  in  kind, 

And  honor  will  honor  meet; 
And  a  smile  that  is  sweet  will  surely  find 

A  smile  that  is  just  as  sweet. 

For  life  is  the  mirror  of  king  and  slave, 

'Tis  just  what  we  are  and  do; 
Then  give  to  the  world  the  best  you  have, 

And  the  best  will  come  back  to  you." 

There  was  silence,  breathless  silence,  for  a  moment 
after  she  ceased.  The  guests  felt  that  they  had  heard 
not  only  a  song,  but  a  message.  Then  the  company  burst 
forth  in  such  loud  applause  that  it  was  evident  Rose  had 
become  the  guest  of  honor. 

"  I  know  now  what  she  meant,"  said  Jefferson  to  him- 
self. "  That  was  a  song  with  '  spirit '  in  it.  There  was 
more  than  art  in  her  singing.     There  was  life." 

Mrs.  Waynor  was  distinctly  pleased  at  the  triumph 
her  niece  had  gained.  She  felt  assured  now  that  Rose's 
natural  gifts  and  social  accomplishments  would  outweigh 
the  odium  of  her  connection  with  an  institution  designed 
to  uplift  the  negro  race. 

Among  the  number  who  came  forward  to  congratu- 
late Rose  was  Donald  Shelby.  "  I  want  to  thank  you 
for  that  song,"  said  Donald  simply.  "  It  has  shown  me 
a  new  power  in  music." 


AN  EVENING  AT  WAYNOR'S  41 

"  It  was  the  sentiment  of  the  song,  not  my  singing, 
that  pleased  you,  I  think,"  she  answered  with  a  blush. 

"  It  was  both,"  replied  Donald  with  enthusiasm.  "  I 
was  reminded  of  Longfellow's  verse  about  '  lending  to 
the  rhyme  of  the  poet  the  beauty  of  thy  voice.'  You 
certainly  filled  all  our  souls  with  music.  The  words 
and  your  singing  of  them  to-night  made  a  perfect  sym- 
phony." 

In  his  pleasure  Donald  had  forgotten  for  the  moment 
all  about  Harbison  Institute,  and  he  shook  hands  warmly 
with  Rose  in  parting,  saying :  "  We  are  so  glad  to  wel- 
come you  to  Dothan.  I  shall  hope  to  hear  you  sing  again 
soon." 

Donald  and  Jefferson  walked  home  together.  After 
both  had  recovered  somewhat  from  the  excitement  and 
pleasure  of  the  evening,  which  had  been  an  eventful  one 
for  both  of  them,  Donald,  with  a  troubled  mind,  recalled 
Legree's  threat,  and  asked  Jefferson  anxiously :  "  What 
kind  of  a  row  did  you  have  at  Larkin's  hotel  last  week? 
Legree  was  telling  me  about  it." 

Jefferson  told  his  story,  adding  that  he  had  begun  to 
notice  some  people  glaring  at  him  on  the  streets,  and 
asking  why  Legree  was  interested  in  the  episode. 

"  Legree  is  the  real  master  of  Dothan,"  said  Donald 
with  an  air  of  disgust.  "  I  despise  him,  but  he  is  the 
political  '  boss  '  and  everyone  bows  to  him.  His  word  is 
law." 

"What  does  he  think  about  the  hotel  affair?"  asked 
Jefferson,  seeing  that  his  friend  was  acting  very  gravely. 

"  I  am  afraid,  Jefferson,  that  you  have  gotten  yourself 
into  trouble.  Once  let  it  get  started  here  that  you  are 
in  favor  of  helping  niggers  and  it  will  ruin  you.  A  young 
traveling  man  from  Chicago,  a  fine  young  fellow,  who 
sold  office  supplies,  was  recently  put  in  jail  by  Legree 


42  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

for  attending  a  negro  church  and  calling  on  the  negro 
minister,  Dr.  Brown.  They  almost  lynched  the  poor 
fellow  before  he  could  get  away.  You  see,  it  is  like  this : 
Legree  holds  his  power  on  account  of  the  menace  of  the 
nigger,  and  every  time  he  runs  a  man  out  of  town  in  that 
way  the  whites  think  he  has  saved  the  community  from 
black  rule.  I  think  you  had  better  leave  Dothan  for  a 
while,  at  any  rate." 

Jefferson  made  no  reply  for  a  few  moments.  The 
sound  of  their  footfalls  could  be  heard  echoing  along  the 
deserted  streets.  Suddenly  the  young  man  stopped  and 
faced  Donald  Shelby. 

"  By  the  eternal,  I  won't  go.  I  had  intended  to  leave 
soon  for  a  visit  to  Washington,  but  Legree  can't  drive 
me  out  of  Dothan.  I  will  stay  here  all  summer,  if  need 
be,  but  I  am  going  to  show  that  brute  that  this  is  free 
America.     If  Legree  wants  a  fight  with  me  I  am  ready." 

"  It's  no  use,"  answered  Donald  sadly.  "  You  will 
only  get  yourself  into  trouble  and  perhaps  ruin  your 
whole  future.  I  have  seen  Legree  drive  out  some  of 
the  best  men  in  our  community.  I  think  he  wants  to 
disgrace  you  because  he  is  afraid  you  are  gaining  favor 
with  Miss  Ashley.  He  is  seeking  to  win  her  himself, 
and  I  noticed  him  glare  at  you  like  a  fiend  several  times 
to-night  when  you  v/ere  in  her  company." 

If  Donald  Shelby  had  wished  to  compel  Jefferson  to 
remain  in  Dothan  in  defiance  of  Legree's  threat  he  could 
not  have  taken  a  better  way  than  to  suggest  that  Legree 
wanted  a  free  field  with  Florence  Ashley. 

"  Donald,  my  mind  is  settled.  Let  Legree  do  his 
worst ;  I  am  in  Dothan  to  remain.  To-morrow  I  will  see 
him  myself  and  tell  him  so." 

"  It  is  madness,  Jefferson ;  pure  madness,"  protested 


AN  EVENING  AT  WAYNOR'S  43 

Donald.  "  You  have  no  more  show  against  Legree  in 
Dothan  than  a  child  has  in  meeting  an  African  lion." 

"  Don't  fear  for  me,"  said  the  other  confidently.  "  Le- 
gree and  I  are  destined  to  fight  anyway,  and  the  sooner 
the  better.     I  will  give  no  quarter  and  take  no  quarter." 

But  Donald  Shelby  went  home  with  a  heavy  heart. 

"  Poor  Jefferson !  "  he  kept  repeating  to  himself.  "  1 
am  afraid  I  have  brought  him  down  to  Dothan  to  be  torn 
to  pieces  by  dogs." 


CHAPTER  IV 

PETER  LEGREE 

The  morning  after  the  debut  of  Rose  Atkinson  in 
Dothan  society  Jefferson  Lilly  was  taking  a  stroll  along 
a  side  street  meditating  on  his  proposed  visit  to  the  office 
of  Peter  Legree.  So  absorbed  was  he  in  his  thoughts 
that  he  failed  to  hear  a  buggy  stop  opposite  him  on  the 
street;  and  not  until  its  occupant  had  shouted  to  him 
was  he  aware  that  someone  wanted  him.  Rather  sur- 
prised, he  walked  over  to  the  side  of  the  vehicle  and  rec- 
ognized the  doctor  who  had  bandaged  the  negro's  wounds 
at  the  hotel,  and  who  had  relieved  him  of  his  troublesome 
black  burden. 

"  How  are  you,  my  friend  ?  "  said  the  doctor  heartily. 
14  Have  you  time  to  take  a  little  ride  this  morning?  " 

"  Delighted !  "  responded  the  other,  although  he  was  in 
some  wonder  as  to  what  it  meant. 

"  Get  in,  then,  and  let  us  drive  on  together.  I  am  glad 
to  see  you  again.  I  was  just  going  to  call  on  the  poor 
fellow  whose  life  you  saved  the  other  day,  and  I  thought 
you  might  want  to  know  how  he  is  getting  on." 

"  How  is  he?  "  asked  Jefferson. 

"  He  is  recovering  nicely,  but  I  am  afraid  he  is  crippled 
for  good.  You  certainly  called  me  just  in  time,  and  I 
was  glad  to  be  there,  for  I  know  the  man  well.  His  name 
is  Mose  Thomas,  and  his  son,  Nafti,  works  for  me  morn- 
ings and  evenings.  The  boy  is  attending  Harbison  Insti- 
tute along  with  his  sister." 

44 


PETER  LEGREE  45 

"  I'm  glad  the  poor  devil's  life  was  saved,  though  that 
experience  is  likely  to  make  me  some  trouble  yet  from 
what  I  hear." 

The  doctor  did  not  respond  to  this,  perhaps  not  know- 
ing just  what  to  say. 

"  What  is  your  name,  Doctor  ?  "  went  on  Jefferson. 
"  My  name  is  Lilly  —  Jefferson  Lilly.  I  am  a  friend 
of  Donald  Shelby,  and  I  am  visiting  in  Dothan  for  a 
while." 

"  I'm  Dr.  Rankin,"  replied  the  physician.  "  One  of 
your  pill  venders." 

"  From  the  way  you  put  that  nigger  together  the  other 
day  I  should  say  you  were  a  first-class  mechanic,"  said 
Jefferson  with  a  laugh. 

"  It's  too  bad  about  that  negro,"  said  the  doctor,  getting 
serious. 

"  He  is  one  of  the  whitest  of  them  all  in  Dothan  and 
one  of  the  most  intelligent.  I  can't  understand  Legree 
getting  after  him." 

"  What  had  Legree  to  do  with  it  ?  "  asked  the  other 
with  great  interest. 

The  doctor  became  cautious.  "  Umph !  you  know 
everything,  good  and  bad,  is  blamed  on  Legree.  At  least, 
he  is  our  '  boss '  down  here." 

Jefferson  did  not  push  the  question,  but  he  thought  he 
could  see  some  reason  for  Legree's  interest  in  the  hotel 
episode. 

"  You  may  call  that  fellow  *  white,'  but  I  call  him  the 
blackest  negro  I  ever  saw,"  Jefferson  remarked  with  a 
smile. 

"  Yes,  he's  coal  black,  a  full-blooded  African.  They 
are  the  only  kind  of  niggers  I  like,"  answered  Dr.  Rankin, 
"  but  in  his  character  he  can  set  an  example  to  some 
white  men  I  know.     He  was  born  a  slave,  but  he  learned 


46  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

to  read  and  write  as  a  boy,  and  also  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  He  is  a  useful  man  and,  say,  you  won't  be- 
lieve it,  but  it's  true  all  the  same,  he  is  to-day  keeping 
the  drunken  son  of  his  old  master  out  of  the  poorhouse. 
He  lost  his  wife  some  time  ago,  and  his  son  and  daughter 
are  attending  Harbison  Institute,  so  he  is  alone  mostly, 
as  the  students  all  stay  at  the  Institute  now,  since  the 
dormitories  were  built.  Here  we  are  at  his  house.  Come 
in  and  see  him,  won't  you  ?  " 

Jefferson  accompanied  the  physician  inside  the  two- 
room  shanty.  Nafti,  a  boy  of  about  sixteen,  and  his 
sister,  Martha,  a  comely  black  girl  of  eighteen  or  nine- 
teen, met  them  at  the  door  and  they  were  ushered  into 
the  room  where  the  wounded  man  lay,  still  bandaged, 
but  looking  very  different  from  the  half-dead  negro  of  a 
few  days  ago. 

"  Uncle,"  said  the  doctor  pleasantly,  "  this  is  the  man 
who  saved  your  life.     He  has  come  to  see  you." 

Jefferson  came  forward,  and  the  poor  negro  was  much 
affected.  Tears  came  into  his  eyes  as  he  said :  "  I'se 
glad  to  see  you,  Massa.  De  good  Lawd  will  sho'  bless 
you." 

"That's  all  right,  Uncle,"  rejoined  Jefferson.  "You 
would  have  helped  me  if  I  had  been  in  the  ditch." 

"  I'se  sho'  would,  I'se  sho'  would,"  said  the  poor  fel- 
low brokenly. 

It  was  a  new  experience  for  Jefferson  to  enter  a  negro 
home.  He  looked  around  with  interest,  and  was  sur- 
prised to  see  a  carpet  on  the  floor,  pictures  on  the  wall 
and  some  books  in  a  rude  bookcase.  He  could  see  a 
volume  of  Paul  Lawrence  Dunbar's  works,  the  gifted 
negro  poet,  and  also  a  copy  of  Robert  Burns : 

"Do  you  read  Burns,  Uncle?"  said  Jefferson  in  sur- 
prise to  the  negro. 


PETER  LEGREE  47 

"  Yes,  Massa,  I'se  fond  o'  dat  book.  Fse  learned  some 
o'  dem  pages  by  heart." 

Jefferson  Lilly  was  partly  Scotch  in  his  ancestry,  and, 
like  all  Scots,  he  was  a  devoted  admirer  of  the  "  poet 
of  democracy  "  who  has  given  lasting  fame  to  the  land 
of  the  heather.  The  idea  of  a  negro  knowing  anything 
about  his  favorite  poet  was  so  novel  that  he  could  hardly 
believe  his  ears. 

"  What  poems  of  his  do  you  know  ?  "  he  asked  rather 
incredulously. 

The  wounded  negro  answered  at  once :  "  I'se  like  dis 
one  best,"  and  he  began,  with  his  rich  African  accent,  to 
recite  several  stanzas  of  "  Man  Was  Made  to  Mourn." 

Jefferson  listened  as  in  a  dream.  Tears  came  to  the 
eyes  of  the  black  man  as  he  spoke  these  pathetic  lines  in 
that  poem : 

"If  I'm  designed  yon  lordling's  slave  — 

By  Nature's  law  designed  — 
Why  was  an  independent  wish 

E'er  planted  in  my  mind? 
If  not,  why  am  I  subject  to 

His  cruelty  or  scorn? 
Or  why  has  man  the  will  and  pow'r 

To  make  his  fellow  mourn  ?  " 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  he  was  a  white  nigger  ?  "  said  the 
doctor  when  they  had  seated  themselves  again  in  the 
buggy.  Before  he  could  answer  Jefferson  noticed  a  white 
man,  who  was  standing  near,  glare  at  him  so  impu- 
dently that  he  said  to  the  doctor,  "  Who  is  that  man  ?  " 

"  He  is  one  of  Legree's  creatures,"  answered  the  doc- 
tor, a  shade  passing  over  his  face.  "  This  visit  of  yours 
to  a  negro  home  with  me  may  make  you  trouble,  I  am 
afraid.  I  never  thought  of  it  when  I  asked  you  to  come 
in  with  me." 


&8  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  Don't  be  afraid,"  replied  Jefferson  confidently.  "  I 
am  an  Alabama  man  myself,  and  I  care  nothing  for 
that  brute,  Legree.  But  say,  Doctor,  that  negro  is  one  in 
a  million." 

"  His  kind  are  increasing  in  the  South,  I  happen  to 
know,  but  slowly,  very  slowly." 

When  they  had  reached  the  main  street  Jefferson  bade 
the  doctor  good-by  and  went  at  once  to  his  rooms.  He 
had  made  up  his  mind  to  see  Legree  right  after  dinner. 

"  I  remember  well  that  I  saw  Legree  on  that  road  the 
day  I  found  the  nigger,"  said  Jefferson  to  himself.  "  If 
Legree  gives  me  too  much  trouble  I  will  make  him  walk 
the  plank  for  his  impudence.     He  can't  ride  over  me." 

After  dinner  Jefferson  went  straight  to  Legree's  of- 
fice. He  easily  found  the  headquarters  of  Dothan's  mas- 
ter. 

"  I'm  Jefferson  Lilly,"  he  announced,  walking  abruptly 
into  the  room,  which  he  noticed  was  occupied  by  Legree 
alone,  and  stopping  in  the  middle  of  the  floor. 

Legree  stared  at  him  from  his  chair  at  a  desk. 

"  I  hear  I  have  been  ordered  out  of  Dothan,  and  I 
want  to  have  a  talk  with  you  about  it,  Mr.  Legree." 

For  a  moment  Legree  was  speechless.  Such  audacity 
as  this  was  unknown  before  in  Dothan.  Men  had  been 
known  before  to  walk  into  a  lion's  den  and  a  tiger's  cage, 
but  no  one  had  ever  dared  before  to  beard  Legree  like 
this. 

Legree  was  a  short,  broad,  muscular  fellow,  about 
thirty-five  years  old,  or  perhaps  a  little  older,  with  a 
round  bullet  head  and  a  low  forehead,  a  sort  of  human 
bulldog.  Jefferson,  a  much  younger  man  by  ten  years 
or  more,  towered  above  him  in  height,  broad-shouldered, 
open-faced,  commanding. 

Legree  recovered  himself,  and  frowned  darkly  as  he 


PETER  LEGREE  49 

answered :  "  There  is  no  need  to  talk.  You  get  out  of 
Dothan  this  week  or  take  the  consequences." 

"  Who  made  you  lord  over  this  community,"  asked 
Jefferson,  looking  him  straight  in  the  eye. 

"  It's  none  of  your  d — d  business,"  replied  Legree  with 
an  oath.     "  We  want  no  white  niggers  in  this  town." 

Like  a  flash,  Jefferson's  gun  gleamed  in  his  hand. 
"  Take  it  back !  "  he  thundered.     "  Take  it  back !  " 

Legree  was  dazed  by  the  suddenness  of  the  attack  and 
the  fury  of  his  antagonist. 

"  Take  it  back  instantly  or  you  are  a  dead  man ! "  re- 
peated the  enraged  Jefferson,  taking  a  step  nearer  the 
already  frightened  Legree. 

The  iron  nerves  of  the  "  boss  "  gave  way,  as  he  looked 
down  the  shining  barrel  of  the  deadly  weapon,  and  saw 
the  glitter  of  Jefferson's  eye.  "  Pardon  me,  pardon  me ; 
put  down  your  gun.  I  meant  nothing ! "  he  stammered 
in  confusion. 

Jefferson  saw  he  had  gained  the  mastery,  and  quietly 
put  his  gun  in  his  pocket.  "  Let  me  tell  you  something," 
he  said,  sitting  down  calmly  opposite  Legree,  who  was 
now  completely  cowed.  "  My  name  is  Jefferson  Lilly, 
as  I  said.  I  was  born  near  Birmingham,  in  Alabama, 
and  my  father  was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  north- 
ern Alabama  for  over  quarter  of  a  century.  I  am  a 
white  man,  but  I  am  a  man.  Did  you  leave  that  negro 
to  die  in  the  ditch  the  other  day  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"  We  have  too  many  '  spoiled '  niggers  around  here 
now,"  muttered  Legree. 

"  That's  not  the  question.  A  dog  ought  to  have  a 
square  deal  and  so  ought  a  nigger.  Now,  listen!  I 
know  who  cut  up  that  nigger.  I  know  you  think  it  is 
no  crime  to  slash  a  decent,  honest  nigger,  but  I  can  put 
you  in  the  '  pen '  for  it,  remember  that.     Let  me  alone 


50  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

after  this.  I  know  how  to  treat  a  white  man,  and  I  know 
how  to  treat  a  nigger.  I  need  no  lessons  from  you  or 
anyone  else." 

The  crafty  Legree  was  gathering  himself  together. 
Jefferson  had  inspired  him  with  the  most  venomous 
hatred,  and  he  longed  to  crush  him,  but  he  realized  an 
enemy  like  Jefferson  must  be  defeated  by  treachery.  He 
pretended  friendship,  and  with  a  forced  smile  reached 
out  his  hand,  saying :  "  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Lilly.  I 
thought  you  were  a  fool  Northerner,  and  that  you  needed 
a  lesson,  but  I  see  you  are  one  of  us.  I  am  glad  you 
came  up  to  see  me.    Count  me  as  your  friend  after  this." 

Jefferson  was  deceived.  He  imagined  he  had  gained 
a  complete  victory.  "  All  right,  Legree.  We  shake 
hands  on  that."  The  handshake  was  not  cordial,  but  it 
was  sincere  on  Jefferson's  part.  All  he  wanted  was  that 
Legree  should  not  trouble  him,  and  he  felt  assured  he 
had  gained  his  point.  He  went  out  on  the  street  with 
the  light  of  power  in  his  eye. 

Going  direct  to  Donald  Shelby's  office,  he  told  of  his 
day's  experiences,  both  his  visit  to  the  negro  home,  and 
his  encounter  with  Legree.  "Jefferson,"  said  Donald 
gravely,  "  you  are  acting  foolishly.  That  visit  with  the 
doctor  is  enough  to  rouse  the  mob  here,  if  it  gets  out. 
You  must  remember  it  is  different  here  from  northern  Ala- 
bama, and  Legree  has  worked  things  up  to  fever  heat  on 
color  prejudice.  I  am  afraid  of  that  man  Legree.  He 
is  crafty  as  a  fox  and  as  venomous  as  a  serpent.  I 
would  advise  you  to  leave  town  at  once  for  a  little  while 
at  any  rate.  I  am  sorry  you  didn't  pass  by  that  nigger  and 
let  him  alone.  It  has  brought  you  trouble  already,  and  I 
am  afraid  it  has  only  begun." 

"  Donald,  your  nerves  are  getting  weak.  You  were 
not  like  this  in  college.     I  am  afraid  this  Southern  cli- 


'Take  it  back,"  he  thundered.     "Take  it  back' 


PETER  LEGREE  51 

mate  in  Alabama  is  taking  the  spirit  out  of  you.  You 
.were  not  afraid  of  the  devil  in  hell  in  the  old  days  a  few- 
years  ago." 

"  Legree  is  a  very  devil  incarnate  when  he  is  opposed," 
responded  his  friend.  "  I  have  lived  here  for  several 
years  and  I  know  him." 

"  If  every  hair  on  his  bullet  head  were  a  devil  I  would 
no  more  fear  him  than  I  would  a  rabbit,"  said  Jefferson, 
drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height.  "  Cheer  up,  Don- 
ald. Jefferson  Lilly  is  able  to  take  care  of  himself  any- 
where." 

But  Donald  only  shook  his  head  sadly. 

Jefferson  remembered  afterward  his  friend's  fears. 
He  soon  found  out  they  were  not  groundless. 


CHAPTER  V 
an  Automobile  ride 

Jefferson  Lilly  left  Donald  Shelby's  office  that  after- 
noon in  high  spirits.  Never  did  a  young  man,  confident 
in  himself  and  full  of  the  joy  of  living,  face  the  future 
with  brighter  hopes  than  this  stalwart  son  of  Alabama 
did  that  day. 

Remembering  the  momentary  pause  before  Florence 
Ashley  withdrew  her  fair  hand  after  he  had  raised  it  to 
his  lips  on  the  previous  night,  he  determined  to  make  it 
a  day  memorable  for  his  victory  in  love  as  well  as  in 
war.  With  Legree  crouching  beneath  his  feet,  he  would 
now  endeavor  to  crown  himself  with  Miss  Ashley's 
favor. 

He  was  an  expert  motorist  and  Miss  Ashley  had  prom- 
ised to  accompany  him  on  an  automobile  ride.  Going  to 
a  garage,  he  engaged  the  best  car  available  and  was  soon 
rolling  along  the  streets  of  Dothan  in  the  direction  of  the 
stately  Ashley  home. 

"  I  will  be  delighted  to  go  with  you,"  said  the  girl. 
"  This  is  such  a  perfect  day,  and  I  have  nothing  what- 
ever on  hand.  I  am  glad  you  have  come  for  me  " ;  and 
she  beamed  on  him  as  she  prepared  for  the  excursion. 
Jefferson  was  jubilant. 

In  the  powerful  and  magnificent  motor  car,  which  he 
controlled  with  perfect  mastery,  Jefferson  Lilly  and  his 
companion  made  a  fair  picture  as  they  speeded  along 

59 


AN  AUTOMOBILE  RIDE  53 

through  the  main  street  of  the  city  out  to  the  long  level 
stretches  of  country  roads. 

"  Curse  him,  there  he  goes,  the  upstart  fool !  I'll  soon 
make  his  cake  into  dough,"  and  Peter  Legree  swore  a 
vile  oath.  He  saw  the  happy  couple  go  past  from  the 
window  of  his  office,  and  the  venom  of  a  thousand  rattle- 
snakes was  in  his  heart. 

But,  all  unconscious  of  anything  in  the  world  except 
beauty  and  love,  Jefferson  drove  his  car  swiftly  outside 
the  bounds  of  the  city. 

"  Be  careful,  Mr.  Lilly.  I  am  afraid  you  are  reckless 
with  an  automobile,"  said  the  girl  as  they  darted  past  a 
buggy  at  full  speed. 

u  Trust  me,  Miss  Ashley.  I  have  had  some  splendid 
rides  in  motor  cars  and  I  have  never  had  an  accident  yet. 
I  want  you  to  let  me  give  you  a  fast  ride  as  soon  as  we 
get  out  a  few  miles." 

He  turned  to  look  at  his  companion  for  a  moment,  and 
it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  his  heart  began  to  beat 
almost  as  fast  as  the  motor's  engine.  Florence  Ashley 
was  a  picture  that  day,  charming  and  bewitching.  Her 
hat  was  secured  with  a  silken  scarf,  which  was  tied  in  a 
large  bow  beneath  her  dimpled  chin.  A  few  locks  of  her 
raven  tresses  had  escaped  from  their  confinement  and 
were  waving  in  triumph  over  the  scarf.  Her  cheeks 
were  flushed  with  excitement,  her  lips  slightly  apart,  her 
eyes  shining  with  pleasure. 

"  All  right !  "  she  cried  out  gayly,  answering  his  words 
and  not  his  look  of  admiration.  *  You  are  in  charge  this 
afternoon,  and  I  want  you  to  show  me  what  a  real  auto- 
mobile ride  is.  The  Dothan  young  men  are  afraid  of  a 
motor." 

"  I  wonder  what  it  is  that  cuts  the  nerve  of  your  young 
men  around  here,"  said  Jefferson,  rather  unconscious  of 


54  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

the  boldness  of  his  speech.  "  Before  he  came  to  Dothan 
my  friend,  Donald  Shelby,  was  as  bold  as  a  lion,  and  now. 
he  is  as  tame  as  a  cat." 

Florence  Ashley  laughed  good-naturedly.  "  Be  care- 
ful," she  exclaimed ;  u  remember  I  am  a  loyal  Dothan 
girl,  but  I  must  confess  I  often  wish  our  young  men  had 
more  of  the  lion  spirit." 

Jefferson  instinctively  saw  his  opportunity  when  she 
made  this  remark.  They  say  that  love  is  blind,  but  love 
is  Argus-eyed  and  sees  a  volume  in  a  word,  a  long  poem 
in  a  glance  and  a  detailed  statement  in  the  slightest 
hint. 

"  If  I  can  only  show  her  that  I  have  a  little  of  the  lion 
spirit,"  said  Jefferson  to  himself,  "  she  is  mine." 

On  they  sped,  faster  and  faster,  as  they  entered  the 
more  sparsely  settled  country  districts.  The  dusky  labor- 
ers of  the  rich,  southern  Alabama  fields  had  already  begun 
to  chop  the  growing  cotton,  and  Florence  could  see  them 
gaze  in  astonishment  as  the  rushing  car  smoked  along 
the  level  roads.  Jefferson  slowed  up  somewhat  as  he 
came  near  a  village,  but  once  in  the  open  road  again  he 
threw  on  the  high  gear,  opened  the  gasoline  valve  and 
tore  along  mile  after  mile  at  lightning  speed. 

"  This  is  glorious,"  said  the  girl  with  enthusiasm.  "  I 
never  knew  what  an  automobile  ride  was  before." 

"  I  am  only  getting  you  accustomed  to  a  little  speed 
so  far,"  replied  Jefferson.  "  This  is  a  fifty-horsepower 
motor,  and,  after  a  while,  when  I  am  sure  of  the  roads, 
I  want  to  give  you  a  few  miles  of  real  speed." 

"  If  we  go  any  faster  we'll  fly,"  laughed  Florence, 
catching  one  of  her  tresses,  which  had  become  too  ex- 
cited and  was  waving  in  dangerous  proximity  to  Jeffer- 
son's face.  She  soon  had  it  stowed  safely  away  under 
the  scarf. 


AN  AUTOMOBILE  RIDE  55 

"Do  you  really  enjoy  a  little  fast  motoring?"  asked 
Jefferson. 

"  I  do,  with  you  at  the  wheel,"  she  confessed,  and  then, 
noticing  how  the  words  sounded,  she  stammered  in  con- 
fusion :    "  I  mean,  when  I  know  I  have  a  good  driver." 

"  Thanks,  thanks,  either  way,"  Jefferson  answered 
laughingly,  but  without  daring  to  take  his  eye  off  the  road 
for  a  moment,  although  he  would  have  given  a  good  deal 
just  then  to  have  seen  the  blush  that  he  knew  accom- 
panied her  confusion. 

"  This  car  is  a  new  one :  as  sure  as  a  Corliss  engine 
and  as  steady  as  an  ocean  liner,"  he  went  on.  "  I  was 
over  this  road  with  Shelby  the  other  day,  and  a  little 
farther  on,  where  the  road  runs  alongside  the  railway 
tracks,  there  is  a  stretch  of  four  or  five  miles  that  I  think 
I  can  cover  in  less  than  five  minutes." 

Florence  looked  around  her.  Fields  were  flying  past 
as  if  on  wings.  Cabins  and  plantation  houses  appeared 
for  an  instant  and  then  whizzed  by.  She  looked  behind, 
but  a  cloud  of  dust  obscured  all  vision. 

The  long,  level  road  could  be  seen  ahead  for  miles,  and 
they  plainly  had  the  clear  right  of  way.  The  occupants 
of  the  few  carriages  and  wagons  which  they  met  saw 
them  coming  like  a  cannon  ball  in  the  far  distance,  and 
turned  out  quickly  to  give  the  winged  chariot  free  pas- 
sage. 

They  were  now  nearing  the  level  stretch  where  Jeffer- 
son had  determined  to  win  his  case  with  Florence  Ashley 
by  an  exhibition  of  the  lion  spirit,  enough  to  convince 
her  that  even  Richard  the  Lion  Heart  could  not  be  more 
daring  than  he. 

"  Hold  on  now ;  here  we  go ! "  he  shouted  as  he  ad- 
vanced the  sparker  and  opened  to  its  full  width  the  gaso- 
line valve. 


56  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Just  then  a  shrill  whistle  was  heard  close  behind  them, 
and  the  flying  Coastland  Express,  going  at  full  speed, 
pulled  abreast  of  them  on  the  railway  tracks,  which  were 
less  than  fifty  yards  distant.  The  road  and  the  tracks 
ran  parallel  for  over  five  miles  from  that  point. 

"  Here  is  the  chance  of  my  life,"  said  Jefferson  to  him- 
self as  he  bent  over  the  steering  wheel,  the  quivering  car 
rushing  on  at  its  highest  speed.  For  a  moment  the  ex- 
press pulled  ahead,  about  a  train  length,  enabling  all  the 
passengers  to  see  the  rushing  motor  car.  The  entire  side 
of  the  train  was  crowded  with  people,  leaning  out  of  the 
windows  and  waving  their  hands  excitedly.  The  engi- 
neer of  the  train  saw  it  was  a  race  and  opened  the  throt- 
tle of  his  engine  still  wider.  But  the  motor  car,  seeming 
to  fly  on  wings  rather  than  roll  on  wheels,  steadily  gained 
until  the  entire  train  was  repassed,  coach  after  coach. 
As  they  forged  at  last  just  a  little  ahead  of  the  thunder- 
ing engine  the  generous  engineer  blew  a  long  blast,  as 
though  to  herald  Jefferson's  triumph. 

Holding  on  to  the  sides  of  the  seat  with  a  tense  clutch, 
Florence  ventured  a  glance  at  the  winner  of  the  race. 
She  never  afterward  forgot  Jefferson  as  he  appeared  to 
her  at  that  moment.  His  automobile  cap  was  pulled 
down  over  his  high  forehead ;  his  eyes  were  fixed  intently 
on  the  road,  looking  far  ahead.  Determination,  courage, 
daring,  utter  fearlessness  were  pictured  in  every  line  of 
his  handsome  face.  She  gave  one  short,  quick  glance, 
and  then  looked  straight  ahead  again,  but  that  one  brief 
glance  was  enough.  Her  prince  had  come  and  her  heart 
slipped  out  of  her  keeping. 

"  How  splendid  he  is !  "  was  her  thought.  But  she  did 
not  yet  know  the  meaning  of  the  sudden  change  in  her 
life,  which  was  wrought  in  an  instant,  when  Jefferson 
Lilly  won  his  race  with  the  flying  Coastland  Express. 


AN  AUTOMOBILE  RIDE  57 

The  five  miles  were  quickly  covered,  and  the  train  be- 
gan to  turn  to  the  left,  passengers  waving  from  every 
window  in  high  excitement.  Florence  released  her  left 
hand  a  moment  in  order  to  give  them  a  parting  salute. 
Half  a  mile  farther  on  the  motor  car  began  to  slow  up, 
the  engine  smoking  and  the  water  boiling  in  the  cooling 
tank.  A  little  farther  on  they  came  to  a  little  grove 
through  which  a  stream  wended  its  way. 

"  We  must  let  the  engine  cool  off  before  we  start  home. 
Let  us  stop  here  for  a  little  while,"  said  Jefferson,  run- 
ning his  car  to  the  side  of  the  road  and  coming  to  a  full 
stop. 

"  I  need  to  cool  off,  too,"  laughed  the  girl,  drawing  a 
long  breath.    u  Wasn't  that  a  glorious  ride !  " 

They  walked  side  by  side  through  the  grove  to  the  side 
of  the  little  stream,  where  they  sat  down. 

"  I  seemed  to  be  in  another  world  for  a  moment,"  said 
Florence,  not  understanding  herself  the  subtle  psycho- 
logical change  which  had  taken  place  in  her  own  soul. 
"  I  would  not  have  missed  that  race  for  anything. 
Where  did  you  learn  to  drive  a  motor  car,  Mr.  Lilly?" 

Jefferson  smiled.  "  It  is  easy  to  drive  like  that  when 
you  have  an  object  in  view,  as  I  had." 

"  What  object  had  you  in  view  ?  "  asked  the  girl  with 
wide-open  eyes. 

"  I  wanted  to  show  you  that  there  is  still  some  lion 
spirit  in  old  Alabama." 

Florence  laughed  gayly.  "  So  you  were  showing  off, 
were  you?  You  certainly  had  a  good  crowd  to  watch 
you,  for  that  trainload  of  passengers  reminded  me  of 
an  excited  mob  at  a  baseball  game  with  two  men  out 
and  the  bases  full.  Even  the  Jim  Crow  cars  went 
wild." 

"  I  cared  nothing  for  the  crowd.     I  just  wanted  to 


58  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

show  you  only  that  the  spirit  of  the  South  is  not  all  rab- 
bitlike." 

"  What  do  you  think,  Mr.  Lilly,  ails  our  young  men  in 
Alabama  ?  "  asked  the  girl  seriously. 

"  I  think  I  am  beginning  myself  to  understand,  Miss 
Ashley,"  he  responded.  "  They  are  too  cautious ;  too 
much  afraid  of  breaking  a  precedent.  Think  of  a  com- 
munity like  Dothan  crouching  beneath  the  heel  of  a  Le- 
gree.    Bah ! " 

Florence  Ashley  blushed,  for  the  mention  of  Legree 
wounded  her  sensibilities,  and  yet  she  well  knew  that  if 
she  had  the  power  she  herself  would  keep  just  such  a 
man  in  control  on  account  of  the  fear  of  black  rule. 

"  The  young  men  of  to-day  need  to  remember  that 
they  are  living  in  the  twentieth  century,"  went  on  Jeffer- 
son earnestly.  "  Let  them  be  free  to  stand  for  what 
they  believe  to  be  a  square  deal  all  the  way  round.  As 
long  as  men  like  Peter  Legree  are  the  '  bosses '  of  the 
South  the  young  men  will  resemble  noble  lions  muzzled, 
chained  and  helpless.  Let  them  cast  away  their  muzzles 
and  break  their  chains." 

"  But  how  ?  "  The  girl  was  gazing  at  him  earnestly, 
still  under  the  spell  of  the  thrilling  ride. 

"  By  crushing  such  creatures  as  Legree  first  of  all, 
just  as  you  would  a  viper;  by  fearing  nothing  except 
cowardice,  and  hating  nothing  except  meanness." 

"  Ah,  you  forget,  Mr.  Lilly,  that  we  of  the  Southland 
have  much  to  fear  and  much  to  hate,"  said  Miss  Ashley 
thoughtfully. 

"  Nonsense !  We  have  made  babies  of  ourselves, 
crying  out  against  our  fate.  The  fault,  sweet  lady,  is 
not  in  our  stars,  but  in  ourselves,  that  we  are  under- 
lings." 

The  girl  did  not  answer  for  a  moment,  and  then  replied 


AN  AUTOMOBILE  RIDE  59 

quietly :  "  You  certainly  talk  differently  from  the  young 
men  of  Dothan.  They  think  there  is  nothing  to  fear  but 
black  rule  and  nothing  to  hate  but  the  Yankee.  What 
you  say  may  be  true." 

"  Would  you  believe  me  if  I  told  you  something  else  ?  " 

His  tone  was  so  changed  that  she  turned  quickly  and 
saw  him  pulling  himself  a  little  nearer  to  her  side.  He 
lowered  his  voice  and  continued :  "  I  think  you  your- 
self have  awakened  these  very  thoughts  in  my  soul. 
Before  I  met  you  I  faced  life  with  a  sneer.  Now  I 
want  to  face  it  with  a  smile  and  a  heart  and  hand  to  do 
and  dare." 

It  was  not  what  he  said,  but  the  gentle  tones  of  his 
voice,  that  made  the  dark-eyed  daughter  of  Alabama 
blush  a  crimson  red.  She  hung  her  head  and  made  no 
reply. 

"Can  I  call  you  Florence  after  this?"  he  pleaded. 

Still  she  was  silent.  He  reached  out  his  Hand  and 
clasped  hers,  carrying  it  slowly  to  his  lips,  and  she  did 
not  resist.  Another  moment  and  she  lay  on  his  breast, 
and  he  rapturously  kissed  her  lips  again  and  again. 

In  a  little  while  they  arose  to  go,  but  it  seemed  a  new 
world  for  them  both. 

"  We  are  a  good  many  miles  away  from  Dothan,"  he 
remarked  as  he  cranked  his  motor,  "  but  we  will  not  be 
in  such  a  hurry  to  return." 

Before  the  long  ride  home  was  finished  he  had  taught 
her  shyly  to  call  him  "Jefferson,"  and  he  called  her 
"  Florence,"  as  though  he  had  known  her  all  his  life. 
"  I  am  glad  your  name  is  Jefferson,"  she  said  once  dur- 
ing the  ride.     "  It  is  a  name  the  South  loves." 

"  My  full  name  is  Jefferson  Davis  Lilly.  I  am  a  child 
of  the  Confederacy,  but  I  do  not  fight  over  the  battles 
that  were  decided  a  generation  ago.     I  live  in  the  pres- 


60  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

ent,  and,  like  Henry  Grady,  I  believe  in  a  new  South, 
greater,  grander,  freer  than  the  old." 

She  asked  him  to  stay  for  supper  and  he  consented 
and  spent  the  evening  with  the  family.  He  found  Mr. 
Ashley,  the  father,  a  broad-minded  man,  but  absorbed 
in  his  legal  profession  and  seemingly  uninterested  in 
the  current  questions  of  modern  politics.  He  was  some- 
what of  a  student,  however,  and  he  and  Jefferson  had 
a  friendly  discussion  over  Victor  Hugo's  ideals  in  litera- 
ture and  in  a  comparison  between  Longfellow  and 
Browning. 

During  the  evening  Florence  played  and  sang.  The 
old  Southern  melodies  seemed  to  have  a  new  meaning 
when  Jefferson  heard  her  sing  them.  He  could  dis- 
cover a  new  pathos  in  "  Massa's  in  the  Cold,  Cold 
Ground,"  and  a  fresh  note  even  in  "  My  Old  Kentucky 
Home,"  as  she  sang  these  familiar  airs. 

"  It  has  been  a  great  day  in  my  life,"  he  thought  to 
himself  as  he  drove  his  automobile  along  the  street  that 
night.  "  To-day  I  have  really  lived.  Life  is  sweet. 
God  is  good." 

This  last  sentiment  was  a  strange  one  to  Jefferson 
Lilly,  but  it  seemed  natural  for  him  to  think  so  on  the 
evening  of  that  eventful  day. 


CHAPTER  VI 

HARBISON    INSTITUTE 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Lilly,  do  you  not  remember  me?  " 
Jefferson  Lilly  brought  himself  back  to  earth  swiftly 
as  he  heard  these  words  one  morning.  Physically  he  was 
walking  along  the  main  street  of  Dothan,  but  mentally  he 
was  whirling  along  in  an  automobile  beside  a  fair  com- 
panion. Aroused  suddenly  from  his  pleasing  day 
dream,  he  responded  rather  absent-mindedly,  "  I  beg 
your  pardon,  Miss.     I  did  not  recognize  you." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  like  some  others  in  Dothan 
just  now,"  replied  the  other,  who  was  Rose  Atkinson 
herself.  She  had  met  Mr.  Lilly  on  the  street,  and  in  his 
self -absorption  he  was  walking  past  without  noticing 
her  when  she  accosted  him.  "  Perhaps  you  do  not  care 
to  recognize  a  teacher  from  Harbison  Institute,"  she 
continued,  laughing  gayly,  showing  plainly  that  any  os- 
tracism she  was  receiving  had  net  weighed  heavily  on 
her  mind. 

"Are  you  teaching  there  now,  Miss  Atkinson?"  Jef- 
ferson asked,  as  he  turned  and  walked  along  by  her 
side. 

"  Yes.  I  began  the  first  of  the  week.  I  am  delighted 
with  the  work  the  institution  is  doing,  and  I  am  planning 
to  get  all  Dothan  interested  in  Harbison.  No  sensible 
person  could  fail  to  be  interested  if  they  knew  what  the 
school  was  accomplishing." 

"  I  am  afraid  Harbison  is  not  a  popular  institution  with 

61 


62  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

the  white  people  of  the  community,  as  I  expect  you  have 
already  found  out." 

"  I  am  going  to  change  all  that,"  said  the  girl  with  a 
toss  of  her  fair  head.  "  I  expect  to  make  the  people 
investigate  the  school,  and  this  foolish  prejudice  against 
making  the  negroes  intelligent  and  industrious  will  soon 
cease  in  Dothan  in  spite  of  such  men  as  Mr.  Legree." 

"  You  have  undertaken  a  bigger  work  than  you  im- 
agine," responded  Jefferson,  "  but  if  you  can't  succeed 
certainly  no  one  can,"  and  he  bowed  gallantly  to  the  fair 
young  Northerner. 

"  Thank  you.  I  am  going  to  begin  right  now  to  win 
the  favor  of  the  whites  in  Dothan,  and  I  want  to  start 
with  you." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Can't  you  come  up  this  afternoon  and  let  me  show 
you  around  the  institution?  There  are  some  exercises 
to  be  given  in  the  chapel  this  afternoon  and  you  can  see 
the  students  all  together  and  get  some  idea  of  what  such 
a  school  as  Harbison  is  doing.  Come  out  there  at  two 
o'clock  and  that  will  give  us  time  to  look  around.  It  will 
astonish  you,  I  know." 

Brought  up  in  the  atmosphere  of  the  South,  Jefferson 
Lilly  had  an  inherent  prejudice  against  the  Northern 
coddling  of  the  Afro-Americans,  and  had  never  visited 
any  of  their  institutions  designed  to  solve  the  race  prob- 
lem by  lifting  up  the  negro  race  out  of  its  primitive 
and  enforced  ignorance.  His  attitude  was  one  of  com- 
plete indifference  to  such  efforts  on  the  part  of  Northern 
philanthropists.  But  his  one  act  of  mercy  to  a  wounded 
black  had  strangely  interested  him  in  the  negro.  His 
visit  to  the  little  home  of  Mose  Thomas,  and  his  meet- 
ing with  his  son  and  daughter,  who  were  students  at 
Harbison,  conspired  to  make  the  prospect  of  a  visit  to 


HARBISON  INSTITUTE  63 

the  Institute  rather  attractive,  especially  when  he  was 
urged  to  come  by  such  a  fair  young  lady  as  Rose  Atkin- 
son. Accordingly,  without  further  ado,  he  promised 
to  pay  the  school  a  visit  that  day,  as  she  had  suggested. 

When  he  entered  the  grounds  of  the  institution  he 
was  conscious  of  a  feeling  of  strangeness,  as  though  he 
were  going  into  some  forbidden  place.  But  he  was 
charmed  by  the  attractive  grounds  which  surrounded  the 
school.  Harbison  Institute  lay  on  the  north  side  of 
Dothan,  occupying  a  beautiful  site,  and  presenting  a 
general  appearance  of  prosperity.  The  farm  adjoining, 
which  covered  200  acres,  was  worked  by  the  students. 
The  main  group  of  buildings  consisted  of  a  large  cen- 
tral college  hall,  dormitories,  the  president's  house,  and 
also  some  other  smaller  edifices  devoted  to  the  industrial 
training,  a  branch  of  the  curriculum  on  which  the  school 
placed  much  emphasis. 

Rose  Atkinson  met  him  at  the  door  of  the  main  build- 
ing and  took  him  directly  to  the  president's  office.  The 
president,  Dr.  Furber,  was  an  elderly,  cultured  gentle- 
man from  New  York  State,  who  had  been  in  charge  of 
the  school  from  its  beginning.  Jefferson  knew  him  by 
appearance,  but  had  never  met  him. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  sir !  "  he  exclaimed  with  great 
cordiality,  when  Rose  introduced  the  two  men.  "  I  am 
delighted  to  have  you  visit  our  institution." 

"  Miss  Atkinson  invited  me  to  come  out  to-day  and  I 
could  not  refuse  her,"  he  answered,  smiling  at  the  girl. 

"  Ah,  I  see ! "  said  the  president  good-humoredly. 
"  She  has  told  me  she  wanted  to  begin  her  work  here  by 
cultivating  a  closer  relationship  between  our  school  and 
the  white  population  of  Dothan.  I  am  glad  to  see  she 
is,  at  least,  interesting  the  young  men." 

"  They   simply   can't   resist   her,"   laughed   Jefferson, 


64  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

rather  enjoying  the  blush  he  brought  to  the  fair  cheek 
of  Rose. 

"  I  have  often  wished  the  white  citizens  of  Dothan 
would  investigate  Harbison,"  said  Dr.  Furber  seriously. 
"  They  would  not  ignore  us  as  they  do  if  they  knew 
the  work  we  are  doing  for  the  prosperity  of  the  South." 

"  I  think,"  replied  Jefferson  apologetically,  "  the 
trouble  is  that  so  many  whites  in  the  South  think  that 
an  educated  negro  is  a  '  spoiled '  negro." 

Dr.  Furber  laughed  outright  as  he  replied,  "  That  is 
because  they  think  of  an  educated  negro  as  a  black 
man  who  wears  a  silk  hat,  a  white  vest,  imitation  jew- 
elry, patent  leather  shoes,  and  so  on,  but  with  us  an 
educated  negro  is  an  honest,  intelligent  man,  with  a 
trained  mind  and  a  skillful  hand,  desiring  to  add  by  his 
labor  to  the  prosperity  of  the  community." 

"  Yes,  but  you  well  know,  Dr.  Furber,  that  many 
whites  in  the  South  do  not  think  you  can  possibly  edu- 
cate the  negro  like  that,  and  you  are  only  spoiling  him 
in  trying  to  do  so." 

"  That  is  a  question  experience  only  can  answer,"  re- 
plied the  president  of  Harbison  with  a  deep  earnestness, 
"  and  experience  is  showing,  beyond  the  possibility  of 
a  doubt,  that  the  negro  can  be  properly  educated  and 
trained,  the  same  as  any  other  race.  If  the  South  only 
knew  it,"  he  continued,  looking  straight  at  Jefferson, 
"  such  institutions  as  Harbison  Institute  are  saving  the 
Southland  from  future  wreck  and  ruin,  and  are  rapidly 
solving  the  race  problem  in  the  only  way  it  can  be 
solved." 

Jefferson  Lilly  was  much  impressed  with  Dr.  Furber's 
earnestness  and  sincerity,  and  was  about  to  reply,  when 
Miss  Atkinson  interposed,  saying :  "  I  think  that  a  walk 
around  our  Institute  will  do  more  to  convert  Mr.  Lilly 


HARBISON  INSTITUTE  65 

to  our  way  of  thinking  than  anything  else,  for  he  can  see 
for  himself  the  truth  of  your  statements.  We  will  be 
back  at  the  chapel  in  time  for  the  exercises,"  she  con- 
tinued, speaking  to  Dr.  Furber,  as  she  and  Jefferson 
left  the  president's  office. 

Rose  first  conducted  the  young  man  through  the  dor- 
mitories. The  rooms  were  neatly  kept,  but  furnished 
very  plainly. 

"  The  students  made  all  this  furniture  themselves," 
explained  Rose. 

"  What !  "  exclaimed  Jefferson  in  astonishment.  "  Do 
you  mean  to  say  that  you  teach  your  students  to  make 
chairs  and  tables  and  bedsteads  ?  " 

"  Why,  of  course,"  she  answered  with  a  smile.  "  You 
will  see  our  carpenter  shop  after  a  while." 

Jefferson  asked  why  even  such  students  as  Nafti 
Thomas  and  his  sister  occupied  rooms  at  the  dormitories 
when  they  lived  in  Dothan,  and  Rose  replied,  "  Those 
two  students  come  from  a  very  nice  negro  home,  but 
we  have  found  that  with  the  most  of  our  students  we 
can  make  little  permanent  influence  on  their  lives  un- 
less we  take  them  clear  away  from  the  little  one-room 
cabins  in  which  they  live,  huddled  together  with  often 
eight  or  ten,  or  even  more,  in  the  family.  Here  we 
can  teach  them  the  proprieties  of  life,  and  the  result  is 
simply  marvelous." 

Jefferson  was  much  amused  when  Rose  told  him 
about  the  use  of  the  toothbrush.  "  We  insist,"  she  said, 
"on  every  student  using  a  toothbrush.  We  find  it  a 
most  powerful  factor  in  promoting  self-respect." 

The  large  dining  room  was  next  inspected,  and  every- 
thing was  found  arranged  in  perfect  order.  "  Our  negro 
girls  have  entire  charge  here,"  Rose  told  him. 

"  We  have  a  negro  cook  and  I  can  tell  you  the  meals 


66  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

in  Harbison  are  superb.  Of  course,  I  always  eat  at  the 
president's  home,"  she  added  with  a  smile,  noticing  the 
look  on  Jefferson's  face  as  she  spoke  of  the  good  meals 
in  the  dining  room  for  the  students. 

"  We  inspect  both  the  boys  and  girls  as  they  walk 
out  of  the  dining  room  every  evening,"  she  explained 
further,  "  in  order  to  see  that  their  clothes  and  dresses 
are  clean  and  neat.  We  have  trouble  with  some  of  the 
boys  occasionally,  as  they  are  so  used  to  sticking  in  a 
shingle  nail  if  a  button  comes  off,  but  we  make  it  a  mis- 
demeanor to  button  with  a  nail,  and  they  soon  learn  to 
keep  the  buttons  sewed  on." 

Jefferson  was  much  interested  in  the  carpenter  shop, 
the  printing  press  and  the  blacksmith  forges.  They 
found  colored  young  men,  in  neat  overalls,  working 
with  steady  industry  under  experienced  teachers.  It 
was  a  revelation  to  him  of  what  Harbison  and  such 
institutions  were  doing  for  the  negro.  They  strolled 
along  the  avenue  to  inspect  the  farm,  and  Rose  told,  with 
evident  amusement,  of  the  surprise  of  some  students 
when  they  found  that  farm  work  was  a  part  of  their 
curriculum.  "  It  hurts  some  of  them  very  much  at- 
first,"  she  said,  "  to  be  sent  out  into  the  field  to  work 
when  they  come  to  Harbison.  Some  of  them  think  that 
after  they  come  to  school  they  will  not  have  to  work, 
but  we  are  educating  them  to  be  workers,  and  we  have 
no  place  here  for  lazy  students,  as  they  soon  find  out. 
Our  great  aim  is  to  show  them  that  work  is  honorable 
and  to  inspire  them  with  a  love  for  honest  toil  of  any 
sort." 

"  How  is  it  that  you  know  so  much  about  the  work- 
ings of  this  institution,  since  you  have  only  been  teach- 
ing here  for  a  few  days  ?  "  Jefferson  at  last  asked  his 
companion. 


HARBISON  INSTITUTE  67 

"  Oh,  I  have  studied  about  this  work  for  several  years. 
There  are  a  number  of  such  institutions  as  this  in  the 
South,  and  I  have  visited  many  of  them.  I  used  to  live 
for  pleasure,"  she  added,  turning  to  Jefferson  suddenly, 
"  but  I  heard  Maud  Ballington  Booth  speak  once,  and 
ever  since  I  have  desired  to  help  others,  and  I  .know  of 
none  in  America  who  need  help  more  than  these  neglected 
and  wronged  Afro-Americans." 

Jefferson  looked  at  her  with  admiration.  She  was  a 
young,  rich  and  beautiful  girl,  able  to  shine  in  any  so- 
ciety, and  yet,  here  she  was,  devoting  herself  to  a  task 
which  only  brought  her  social  ostracism,  and  which  sep- 
arated her  from  much  that  all  young  women  count  of 
chief  importance.  His  soul  was  stirred,  not  as  it  was 
stirred  in  the  presence  of  Florence  Ashley,  but  with  a 
different,  a  more  spiritual  emotion. 

"  Miss  Atkinson,"  he  said  simply,  "  I  cannot  under- 
stand your  self-sacrifice  in  this  cause,  which  you  well 
know  is  so  much  despised;  but  I  honor  you  as  a  true 
woman  whose  life  makes  it  easier  for  a  fellow  like  me 
to  believe  in  humanity  and  in  God." 

"I  do  it  all,  Mr.  Lilly,"  she  replied  quietly,  "for 
Christ's  sake.  I  find  a  joy  in  this  life  that  I  did  not 
find  when  I  sought  only  to  please  and  gratify  myself." 

Jefferson  made  no  reply  and  they  walked  on  in  silence. 

"  Do  you  think  we  are  *  spoiling '  the  negroes  here  ?  " 
at  length  she  asked  him.  "  You  have  now  seen  what 
we  are  doing  in  this  '  awful  place,'  as  Rev.  William 
Durham  calls  it." 

"  I  am  beginning  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  to  un- 
derstand what  these  institutions  are  doing,"  he  replied 
seriously,  "  and  it  astonishes  me  to  think  I  have  never 
investigated  some  of  them  before." 

Rose    Atkinson    smiled    in   triumph.     "  I    knew   you 


68  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

would  be  a  convert !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  I  will  win  the 
white  people  of  Dothan  yet,  although  Dr.  Furber  thinks 
I  am  a  kind  of  Don  Quixote,  full  of  extravagant  ideas 
about  my  ability  to  change  the  prejudices  of  a  city  like 
Dothan." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  will  find  many  who  will  not  be  so 
easily  reached  as  I  was,"  laughed  Jefferson. 

"  It's  time  for  the  exercises  at  the  chapel  to  begin," 
said  Rose,  looking  at  her  dainty  gold  watch.  "  Let  us 
hurry  back  so  we  will  not  be  late." 

Arriving  at  the  chapel  Jefferson  found  about  three 
hundred  students,  half  of  them  young  men  and  half 
young  women.  Following  Rose  Atkinson,  he  proceeded 
to  the  platform  and  sat  down  beside  Dr.  Furber. 

He  soon  found  that  he  was  an  object  of  intense  in- 
terest to  the  students.  Three  hundred  pairs  of  shining 
eyes  were  focused  on  him.  Looking  over  the  sea  of 
black  faces  he  recognized  Nafti  and  Martha  Thomas, 
who  were  regarding  him  with  special  attention,  recogniz- 
ing him  as  the  man  who  had  saved  the  life  of  their  father. 

Jefferson  Lilly  was  greatly  astonished  to  see  the  neat- 
ness in  the  general  appearance  of  all  the  students  and 
the  bright,  intelligent  look  on  almost  every  face. 

"  I  am  almost  inclined  to  believe,"  he  said  to  himself 
as  he  looked  around  the  chapel,  "  that  an  educated  and 
aspiring  negro  race  would  be  safer  and  easier  to  live 
beside  than  an  ignorant  and  hopeless  one." 

The  exercises  began  with  a  simple  invocation  by  the 
president,  after  which  a  young  negress  played  a  selec- 
tion on  the  piano.  Jefferson  was  a  skilled  musician  and 
he  listened  with  amazement  to  her  rendition  of  a  difficult 
classic  composition.  The  technique  was  excellent  and 
the  expression  all  that  could  be  desired. 

The  students  showed  their  appreciation  by  hearty  ap- 


HARBISON  INSTITUTE  69 

plause.  A  negro  quartet  next  sang  a  patriotic  song, 
"  The  Dear  Old  Flag  Has  Never  Touched  the  Ground." 
It  was  a  stirring,  popular  air,  and  the  students  listened 
with  rapt  attention.  As  they  sang  the  chorus  of  the 
last  verse,  the  singers  marched  around  the  platform,  each 
waving  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  The  entire  audience  arose 
and  cheered  in  patriotic  fervor. 

"  These  negroes  love  America,"  Jefferson  thought,  in- 
tensely interested  himself  in  the  scene  before  him.  "  I 
can  see  that  Harbison  Institute  teaches  patriotism,  at  any 
rate." 

Next  came  an  address  by  one  of  the  older  students 
on  "  The  Negro  Farmer."  It  was  delivered  in  a  digni- 
fied, colloquial  style,  and  showed  a  practical  knowledge 
of  the  negro  and  his  relation  to  farm  life. 

"  Any  education,"  he  began  slowly,  "  that  educates 
the  average  negro  away  from  the  farm  is  not  to  be  com- 
mended. Over  eighty  per  cent,  of  our  negro  race  live 
by  agriculture,  and  it  is  the  mode  of  life  best  fitted  to 
promote  the  highest  interests  of  our  race  at  its  present 
stage  of  development."  Here  the  speaker  was  inter- 
rupted with  hearty  applause,  in  which  Jefferson  found 
himself  joining. 

The  speaker  went  on  to  state  that  such  technical 
education  on  farming  as  was  given  in  Harbison  Institute 
and  similar  institutions  in  the  South  enabled  the  negro 
to  increase  fourfold  his  returns  from  the  farm.  He 
told  of  one  graduate  who  had  produced  two  hundred 
bushels  of  sweet  potatoes  from  an  acre  of  ground  in  a 
community  where  the  average  production  had  been  only 
fifty  bushels.  He  also  spoke  of  the  additional  interest 
a  farmer  took  in  his  farm  when  he  had  a  knowledge  of 
the  chemistry  of  the  soil  and  used  the  latest  improved 
methods  in  agriculture. 


70  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  Let  us  learn  in  Harbison,"  he  concluded,  "  how  to 
do  common  things  in  an  uncommon  manner." 

The  loud  applause  at  the  close  of  his  speech  showed 
that  his   sentiments  were  appreciated. 

The  quartet  sang  another  song,  a  sacred  number, 
"  Steal  Away  to  Jesus,"  after  which  Jefferson  saw  Nafti 
Thomas  come  to  the  platform.  He  was  naturally  inter- 
ested in  what  Nafti's  part  was  to  be,  and  as  the  young 
negro  began  to  recite  Bryant's  "  Ode  to  a  Waterfowl " 
he  listened  with  the  closest  attention,  the  poem  being 
one  of  his  own  favorites. 

At  a  later  day  Jefferson  remembered  vividly  the  ex- 
pression of  Nafti's  face  as  he  repeated  the  lines  in  which 
the  poet,  after  the  waterfowl  has  disappeared  in  the  dis- 
tance, expresses  his  faith  in  an  overruling  Providence: 

"  He  who,  from  zone  to  zone, 

Guides  through  the  boundless  sky  thy  certain  flight, 
In  the  long  way  which  I  must  tread  alone, 
Will  lead  my  steps  aright." 

For  an  encore  he  repeated  one  of  the  short  poems  of 
Paul  Lawrence  Dunbar,  the  negro  poet. 

The  exercises  were  concluded  by  a  few  words  of 
commendation  by  Dr.  Furber,  in  which  he  urged  the  stu- 
dents to  fit  themselves  to  do  their  part  in  the  world's 
work  in  this  wonderful  modern  era,  when  all  had  the 
opportunity  to  succeed. 

Jefferson  Lilly  was  delighted  with  his  visit,  and,  as 
he  bade  Dr.  Furber  and  Miss  Atkinson  good-by,  he  re- 
marked :  "  Count  me  as  one  of  the  friends  of  Harbison 
after  this." 

Dr.  Furber  was  much  pleased,  and  the  eyes  of  Rose 
beamed  with  delight.  "  We  may  need  you  some  of  these 
days,"  she  responded  gayly. 


CHAPTER  VII 

DRAWING  THE   BATTLE  LINES 

Jefferson  Lilly  came  back  from  his  visit  to  Harbi- 
son Institute  convinced  that  intelligence  and  education 
made  the  negro  a  better  citizen  than  ignorance  and 
repression.  Meeting  Donald  Shelby  that  evening  he  ex- 
claimed :  "  I  say,  Donald,  I  have  been  over  to  see  what 
your  Pennsylvania  rose  is  doing  at  Harbison!  You 
ought  to  go  out  there  some  day." 

"  Have  you  been  out  at  the  nigger  school  ?  "  his  friend 
asked  in  surprise. 

"  I  suppose  you  don't  want  me  to  get  too  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  fair  Rose,  but  do  not  be  afraid.  There 
is  only  one  girl  in  all  this  world  for  me.  I  want  to  tell 
you,  all  the  same,  that  Rose  Atkinson  is  no  ordinary  girl. 
She  is  a  credit  to  womanhood." 

"  How  was  it  you  came  to  make  a  visit  to  the  school  ?  " 
Donald  asked,  still  looking  serious. 

"  The  fair  Rose  invited  me,  and  I  could  not  say  nay," 
he  responded  lightly. 

Donald  looked  grave.  "  I  tell  you,  Jefferson,"  he  an- 
swered, "  you  must  stay  away  from  every  place  where 
there  are  niggers  for  a  while.  I  heard  rumors  on  the) 
street  to-day  about  you.  I  believe  Legree  is  starting 
stories  and  this  visit  of  yours  to  Harbison  will  lend  them 
color.     You  will  get  the  mob  after  you  yet." 

"  I  have  Legree  backed  into  a  corner,"  responded  Jef- 
ferson   confidently.     "  Run    out    to    Harbison    yourself 

71 


72  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

some  day  and  you  will  not  think  Miss  Atkinson  is  so 
foolish  after  all.  She  says  she  is  determined  to  win  the 
white  people  of  Dothan  to  her  side,  so  that  they  will 
back  up  the  work." 

"  If  she  tries  that  Legree  will  destroy  the  school  if 
he  has  to  burn  it,"  Donald  replied  in  alarm.  "  He  seems 
to  fear  Harbison  more  than  anything  else,  especially 
since  it  has  become  so  prosperous." 

"  If  Legree  and  Rose  get  to  fighting  I  will  put  my 
bets  on  the  Northern  girl  every  time,"  Jefferson  re- 
joined. "  She  is  game.  She  is  already  planning  to 
carry  the  war  into  the  enemy's  quarters  by  inviting 
Booker  T.  Washington,  of  Tuskegee,  to  address  a  big 
meeting  in  Dothan,  when  the  claims  of  the  school  will 
be  laid  before  the  Dothan  whites.     That  girl  is  a  fighter." 

Donald  shook  his  head  gravely.  "  Poor  girl !  She 
little  knows  the  storm  she  will  arouse.  I  wish  some- 
one would  warn  her.  If  she  tries  to  get  the  whites  in- 
terested in  the  school  she  will  raise  the  very  devil  in 
Dothan." 

"  Go  out  to  Harbison,"  said  Jefferson,  "  as  I  did, 
and  you  will  soon  see  that  the  whites  do  not  need  to  fear 
an  institution  like  that." 

"  Miss  Atkinson  has  already  invited  me  to  come  out," 
confessed  Donald,  "  but  I  am  afraid  to  go,  knowing  that 
Legree  has  his  eyes  on  both  of  us  just  now." 

"  Bosh ! "  was  the  abrupt  remark  of  his  friend. 

"  No,"  said  Donald  earnestly,  "  it's  not  bosh.  There 
was  another  lynching  in  the  next  county  yesterday,  and 
it  has  inflamed  the  whites,  and  Legree  is  working  them 
up  to  fever  heat.  He  is  afraid  that  race  prejudice  is 
cooling  off  in  Dothan." 

"What  about  the  lynching?"  inquired  Jefferson.  "II 
did  not  hear  of  it." 


DRAWING  THE  BATTLE  LINES  73 

"  Oh,  another  nigger  insulted  a  white  woman  and 
they  hung  him  up.  That  makes  the  ninth  lynching  in 
'Alabama  in  the  past  year.  There  is  no  use,  Jefferson, 
in  trying  to  do  anything  for  niggers." 

"  Listen,  Donald !  Talk  sense.  There  are  about  one 
million  negroes  in  Alabama.  Nine  out  of  this  million 
have  gone  wrong  in  the  past  year.  Are  you  going  to 
blame  the  crimes  of  these  nine  on  the  whole  negro  race  ? 
I  wonder  if  there  were  not  nine  white  men  that  went 
wrong  in  Alabama  the  past  year." 

Donald  listened  in  surprise.  "  One  would  think  you 
were  direct  from  Boston  to  hear  you  speak,  Jefferson !  " 
he  exclaimed.  "  I  tell  you  if  Legree  hears  you  talking 
that  way  you  will  suffer  for  it." 

"  D Legree.  What's  the  matter  with  you,  Don- 
ald ? "  Jefferson  was  getting  angry.  "  You  used  to 
have  some  spirit  in  the  old  days,  but  you  are  now  like 
all  the  rest.  The  Dothan  men  are  rabbits.  Even  Flor- 
ence Ashley  was  compelled  to  admit  it.  I  tell  you,  Don- 
ald, before  God,  I  would  rather  be  a  poor  black  man, 
chopping  cotton  by  the  day,  than  be  the  Governor  of 
Alabama  and  have  such  a  sneaking  fear  of  a  dog  like 
Legree  as  you  have.  Why  don't  you  act  the  man,  and 
defy  Legree  to  do  his  worst.  Take  it  from  me,  a  man 
of  your  spirit  need  not  look  at  Rose  Atkinson.  She  is 
a  woman,  and  anyone  who  wins  her  must  be  a  man." 

The  two  friends  stood  facing  each  other.  Jefferson's 
words  were  sharp  as  a  Damascus  blade  and  they  pierced 
Donald  to  the  heart.  While  Jefferson  poured  out  his 
indignation  his  friend  stood  with  his  head  bent  and  his 
eyes  on  the  floor  —  a  weak  figure.  Jefferson  Lilly  stood 
erect,  straight  as  a  Sioux  chief,  his  eyes  blazing  and  his 
head  thrown  back  in  defiance.  There  was  a  tense 
silence.     You  could  hear  the  ticking  of  the  clock.    Don- 


74  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

aid  Shelby  was  in  deep  thought,  his  companion's  words 
had  aroused  him,  he  was  making  a  decision  in  his  soul. 

"  Jefferson,"  he  said  at  last  in  a  husky  voice,  "  you 
are  right.  I  have  been  a  coward  or  I  could  have  crushed 
Legree  myself  before  this.  I  will  show  you  and  Rose 
Atkinson  that  I  am  a  man  from  now  on !  " 

He  reached  out  his  hand  and  Jefferson  grasped  it 
warmly.  "  Bravo,  Donald !  I  knew  the  red  blood  of 
Old  Scotland  was  flowing  in  your  veins.  You  look  dif- 
ferent already." 

"  I  will  go  out  to  Harbison  to-morrow,"  said  Don- 
ald, "  and  see  what  things  are  like.  Legree  may  rage  as 
he  wants  to,  but  I  am  going  to  be  free." 

"  Splendid,  old  fellow !  "  laughed  Jefferson.  "  You 
have  been  in  chains  too  long.  If  you  can  win  the  favor 
of  Rose  Atkinson  you  need  not  envy  the  Czar  of  Russia 
or  the  Emperor  of  Germany.  She  is  worth  her  weight 
in  gold  both  literally  and  figuratively." 

Donald  looked  at  him  curiously.  "  If  Florence  Ash- 
ley heard  you  praise  a  Harbison  teacher  like  that  she 
would  send  you  about  your  business  pretty  quick." 

"  You  are  mistaken,"  answered  Jefferson  seriously. 
"  Florence  is  a  real  girl.  She  and  Rose  will  become 
warm  friends  some  day.  They  are  really  kindred 
spirits." 

"  You  don't  know  Florence,  that  is  all,"  laughed  Don- 
ald. 

"  I  think  I  do,"  was  the  simple  response. 

The  result  of  this  encounter  between  the  two  friends 
was  that  Donald  Shelby,  with  a  new  look  of  resolution 
on  his  face  and  a  more  manly  bearing  than  he  had 
shown  for  many  a  day,  approached  Harbison  Institute 
the  next  day.  "  When  Legree  hears  of  this  I  know  he 
will  begin  a  war  on  me  right  away,"  he  said  to  himself, 


DRAWING  THE  BATTLE  LINES  75 

"  but  let  him  growl.  There  are  others  besides  myself 
who  are  mighty  tired  of  Legree." 

He  was  warmly  greeted  by  Rose  Atkinson,  who  took 
him  also  to  Dr.  Furber's  office.  "  Here  is  one  of  Dothan's 
young  lawyers,"  she  said  as  she  presented  him  to  the 
president.  Donald  and  Dr.  Furber  had  met  before,  but 
Dr.  Furber  greeted  him  with  a  new  cordiality. 

"  I  welcome  you  to  Harbison ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  I 
believe  Miss  Atkinson's  policy  will  be  a  success  yet. 
She  thinks  she  can  gain  the  interest  of  the  white  peo- 
ple in  Dothan,  so  that  they  will  help  and  not  hinder  our 
work  here.  I  thought  at  first  she  was  a  dreamer,  but 
your  visit  reassures  me,"  and  he  smiled  at  his  young 
assistant. 

"  I  am  afraid  she  cannot  hope  to  win  all  the  whites," 
answered  Donald.  "  It  will  be  a  long  time  before  such 
a  man  as  Legree  will  ever  favor  an  institution  like  Har- 
bison." 

"  I  do  not  expect  to  win  men  like  Legree,"  said  Rose 
quickly,  "  but  I  do  want  to  depose  such  unprincipled 
men  from  leadership  in  Dothan.  Such  as  he  belong  to 
the  riffraff  of  society,  and  it  is  intolerable  they  should 
be  masters  of  a  community  like  this.     It  is  a  disgrace." 

Donald  Shelby  was  astonished.  As  he  looked  at  Rose 
he  could  see  the  dauntless  spirit  of  the  girl.  She  well 
knew  Legree's  power,  and  yet  she  was  utterly  fearless 
in  her  denunciations.  He  fell  under  the  charm  of  her 
presence,  thrilled  both  by  the  energy  of  her  soul  as  well 
as  the  beauty  of  her  person.  "  Joan  of  Arc  was  not  more 
fearless  or  more  heroic,"  he  said  to  himself  afterward, 
as  he  thought  of  this  young  Northern  girl  entering  the 
lists  with  Legree. 

"  I  think  we  have  only  to  get  intelligent  people  to  see 
what  Harbison  is  really  doing,"  went  on  the  girl,  "  and 


76  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

I  am  sure  the  school  will  become  one  of  Dothan's  proud- 
est institutions." 

"  Miss  Atkinson  is  giving  a  large  part  of  her  for- 
tune, as  well  as  herself,  to  the  cause  of  negro  education," 
explained  Dr.  Furber,  M  and  I  am  putting  her  in  charge 
of  things  here  for  the  present,"  and  the  good  Doctor 
smiled.  He  had  carried  a  heavy  load,  with  constant 
opposition  from  his  white  neighbors  for  many  years, 
and  he  was  delighted  to  have  the  help  and  encourage- 
ment of  the  rich  and  talented  Rose  Atkinson.  He 
agreed  complacently  with  all  her  plans,  although  at  first 
he  was  assured  that  her  expectations  were  altogether 
visionary  in  regard  to  overcoming  prejudice  among  the 
whites. 

"  We  are  to  have  Booker  T.  Washington  here  in  a 
couple  of  weeks,"  said  Rose  with  enthusiasm.  "  I  am 
confident  that  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waynor's  help  we 
can  get  many  of  the  best  people  in  Dothan  out  to  hear 
him,  and  he  will  bring  some  new  ideas  into  this  commu- 
nity, I  am  sure." 

"  I  am  afraid,"  began  Donald  cautiously,  "  if  you  seek 
to  win  the  whites  as  you  propose  that  Legree  and  his 
kind  will  become  active  enemies  and  try  their  very  best 
to  destroy  your  school  altogether." 

"  I  have  thought  of  that,"  replied  Rose.  "  I  well 
know  that  such  men  as  he  are  now  in  power  in  Dothan. 
They  keep  their  places  by  inflaming  race  prejudice,  as 
otherwise  no  decent  community  would  tolerate  them  as 
leaders.  The  whites,  more  than  the  negroes,  are  being 
steadily  dragged  downward  into  the  mire  under  the 
leadership  of  such  men  as  Legree.  But  God  is  on  our 
side,  you  know,"  she  concluded  with  a  confident  smile. 

"Where  will  Dr.  Washington  speak?"  asked  Donald. 

"  In  the  Academy  of  Music.     I  have  a  promise  from 


DRAWING  THE  BATTLE  LINES  77 

the  Hon.  W.  H.  Fleming,  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  that  he 
will  come  and  introduce  the  famous  negro  from  Tuske- 
gee.  We  are  sure  to  have  a  great  meeting.  It  will  en- 
courage the  intelligent  whites  who  really  desire  to  see 
Harbison  prosper,  but  who  are  discouraged  by  the  race 
hatred  which  Legree  has  aroused." 

After  some  further  talk  on  her  future  plans  for  the 
school  Miss  Atkinson  conducted  Donald  around  the  in- 
stitution, calling  his  attention  to  everything,  as  she  had 
done  with  Jefferson  Lilly. 

"  Miss  Atkinson,"  at  last  Donald  ventured  to  say,  "  I 
have  lived  in  Dothan  for  some  years  and  I  know  you  are 
going  to  have  a  battle.  Legree  and  his  crowd  will  not 
give  up  their  power  without  a  bitter  fight.  He  is  crafty 
and  cunning  and  utterly  without  principle.  But  let  me 
say  I  am  your  friend.  If  you  ever  need  my  help  call  on 
me. 

"  I  thank  you,  Mr.  Shelby,"  the  girl  responded.  "  I 
feel  that  with  the  support  of  such  men  as  you  and  Mr. 
Lilly  I  am  already  more  than  a  match  for  Legree." 

Donald  shook  his  head,  but  he  was  silent. 

"  Do  you  enjoy  this  work,"  Donald  asked  her  later, 
"  or  do  you  devote  yourself  to  it  as  a  stern  duty?  " 

"  I  really  enjoy  it,"  she  replied,  and  then,  in  a  lower 
tone,  she  added,  "  I  have  found  out  in  my  own  experi- 
ence that  only  by  trying  to  help  others  can  we  find  real 
happiness." 

"  But  this  work,  worthy  though  it  may  be,  will  sep- 
arate you  from  your  friends,"  protested  Donald. 

"  It  has  not  separated  me  from  you,"  she  replied  archly. 
"  Have  you  not  already  professed  friendship  to  me  ?  " 

He  turned  to  look  at  her  and  their  eyes  met.  "  Yes," 
he  replied  slowly,  "  you  can  always  trust  me  as  a  friend. 
I  would  be  more  than  a  friend." 


78  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

The  girl  blushed  slightly  at  his  earnest  words,  but  she 
met  his  gaze  frankly  as  she  said,  "  I  may  need  to  prove 
your  friendship,  Mr.  Shelby.  If  I  need  help  at  any  time 
I  will  remember  you." 

They  shook  hands  cordially  in  parting,  and  Donald 
returned  to  his  office  with  new,  strange  thoughts  in  his 
soul. 

Even  when  a  Legree  minion  whispered  in  his  ear  late 
that  day,  "  Legree  knows  you  were  at  Harbison  to-day," 
he  was  utterly  indifferent,  and  answered  carelessly, 
"  Tell  him  I  was  pleased  with  my  visit." 

The  efforts  of  Rose  Atkinson  were  not  unknown  to 
the  city  "  boss."  He  learned  with  increasing  rage  of 
Donald  Shelby's  changed  attitude  toward  him,  and  also 
of  the  proposed  visit  of  Booker  T.  Washington. 

"  That  fool  nigger  Washington,"  he  said  to  one  of 
his  henchmen,  "  is  the  worst  proposition  in  all  Alabama. 
If  he  comes  here  and  the  whites  listen  to  him  that 
Yankee  teacher  at  the  nigger  school  will  be  running  this 
town  and  we  will  have  a  black  mayor,  the  first  thing  you 
know.  Ten  to  one  she'll  marry  a  nigger  yet,"  and  he 
frowned  in  rage. 

"  We  must  run  out  that  dude  Lilly  before  long,"  he 
continued,  and  then  he  and  his  minions  consulted  long 
how  they  could  work  the  overthrow  of  the  dauntless 
Jefferson. 

One  evening,  not  long  after  this,  as  Jefferson  was 
returning  from  a  visit  at  the  Ashley  home,  where  he 
was  now  a  frequent  guest,  he  heard  footsteps  behind 
him  and  noticed  that  three  or  four  rough-looking  whites 
were  following  him.  He  quickly  put  his  hand  in  his 
pocket  and  clasped  his  gun  instinctively.  The  gang  came 
nearer,  talking  in  whispers.  Jefferson  strained  his  ears 
to  hear.     "  That's  the  guy,  all  right,"  one  of  the  fellows 


DRAWING  THE  BATTLE  LINES  79 

was  saying.  "  He  has  been  mixing  with  niggers  right 
along."     "  We'll  give  him  a  scare  to-night,"  chimed  in 

another.     "  D a  white  nigger  anyway,"  said  a  third ; 

"  they  are  worse  than  black  niggers." 

Jefferson  did  not  know  what  the  purpose  of  the  men 
might  be,  but  he  was  convinced  they  were  following 
him  and  he  determined  to  become  the  aggressor.  Sud- 
denly wheeling  around  he  walked  into  the  middle  of 
them. 

"  Do  you  fellows  want  to  see  me  ?  "  he  asked  boldly. 
The  men  were  taken  aback  by  his  sudden  move,  but  one 
of  them,  recovering  himself,  answered  in  a  rough  voice, 
"  We  want  you  to  leave  Dothan ;  we  want  none  of  your 
kind  in  this  white  man's  town." 

"  Walk  on !  "  commanded  Jefferson  in  thunder  tones. 
"  I  want  no  yellow  dogs  at  my  heels."  One  of  the  fel- 
lows made  a  lunge  at  him  and  the  others  began  to  crowd 
in.  Jefferson  did  not  hesitate  a  second.  He  pulled  his 
gun  with  a  quick  movement  and  a  sharp  report  rang 
out.  A  cry  of  pain  from  the  fellow  who  had  lifted  his 
hand  told  that  the  shot  had  taken  effect. 

Terrified  by  this  sudden  evidence  of  Jefferson's 
prowess  the  gang  broke  and  fled,  assisting  the  wounded 
man,  whose  arm  had  fallen  helpless.  They  turned  down 
a  side  street  and  Jefferson  was  left  alone.  A  policeman 
soon  appeared  on  the  scene,  and,  flashing  a  lantern  in  his 
face,  asked  if  he  had  fired  the  shot  a  moment  before. 

"  I  did,"  replied  Jefferson.  "  A  gang  of  white  cut- 
throats attacked  me  just  now.  They  ran  down  that  side 
street.     Hurry  after  them." 

The  policeman  laughed  in  a  sneering  way  and  asked 
his  name. 

"  Jefferson  Lilly." 

"  I  have  heard  of  you,  sir,"  the  policeman  answered 


80  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

with  an  oath.  "  We  don't  want  any  trouble  here,  and  a 
lot  of  people  want  to  run  you  out  of  town.  You  had  bet- 
ter leave  early  to-morrow." 

Turning  from  him  in  high  anger  Jefferson  walked  on, 
saying :  "  I  will  see  the  Mayor  and  report  you,  you 
scoundrel." 

The  policeman  laughed  aloud,  but  said  no  more,  evi- 
dently somewhat  cowed  by  Jefferson's  manner. 

When  he  reached  his  room  that  night  he  found  a  letter 
under  the  door.  Opening  it  hastily  he  read  these  words, 
written  in  a  scrawling  hand :  "  We  want  no  white  nig- 
gers in  Dothan.  We  will  give  you  one  more  day  to  get 
out  of  town."  There  was  no  signature,  but  a  rough  skull 
and  cross-bones  were  sketched  at  the  bottom. 

"  Things  are  getting  interesting,"  said  Jefferson  aloud 
as  he  tore  the  missive  into  fragments.  "  Somebody  is 
going  to  get  hurt  soon,  or  these  rascals  will  quit  annoying 
Jefferson  Lilly." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

BOOKER   T.    WASHINGTON    VISITS   DOTHAN 

The  next  morning  Jefferson  went  to  the  Mayor's  of- 
fice and  reported  the  circumstances  of  the  night  before, 
giving  the  policeman's  number  and  demanding  an  in- 
vestigation. He  was  treated  with  scant  courtesy.  His 
recital  of  his  attack  was  laughed  at,  and  he  was  dis- 
armed of  his  gun  under  threat  of  arrest  for  carrying  con- 
cealed weapons.  Evidently  he  was  a  man  well  known 
to  the  city  administration.  He  was  asked  a  number  of 
pointed  questions  and  dismissed,  as  if  he  were  a  crim- 
inal, with  a  recommendation  that  he  leave  Dothan  if  he 
was  not  satisfied  with  the  treatment  he  received  from  the 
citizens. 

Burning  with  indignation  Jefferson  went  to  see  his 
friend,  Donald  Shelby.  But  Donald  counseled  him  to  be 
as  quiet  as  possible  until  after  Booker  T.  Washington's 
visit. 

"  I  believe  Dr.  Washington  will  make  the  Legree  tyr- 
anny impossible  much  longer.  Keep  as  quiet  as  you  can 
and  await  developments,"  advised  his  friend  with  pro- 
verbial Scotch  caution. 

Accordingly  Jefferson  went  to  Montgomery  on  an- 
other short  business  trip,  and  did  not  return  until  the 
very  morning  of  the  day  on  which  Dr.  Washington  ar- 
rived. 

The  invitation  which  Harbison  Institute  extended  to 
Booker  T.  Washington  at  the  request  of  Rose  Atkinson 

81 


82  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

was  a  master  stroke  of  policy  on  that  young  lady's  part. 
She  saw  clearly  that  Harbison  could  never  do  its  real 
work  as  an  educational  school  for  negroes  unless  the 
white  people  were  interested  in  its  success.  Legree  had 
so  far  succeeded  in  keeping  an  impassable  gulf  between 
the  whites  and  the  negro  school,  but  the  beautiful  daugh- 
ter of  the  Quaker  State  had  full  confidence  in  her  ability 
to  bridge  the  gulf. 

No  one  in  all  the  Southland  was  better  fitted  to  awaken 
a  new  sentiment  on  the  whole  question  of  negro  education 
than  the  distinguished  president  of  the  far-famed  Tuske- 
gee  Institute.  Dr.  Washington's  rise  from  a  slave  cabin 
in  the  hills  of  Virginia  to  the  presidency  of  the  richest 
and  most  powerful  institution  in  the  South  has  fascinated 
the  world  and  made  him  a  man  of  international  renown. 
He  has  dined  with  kings  and  Presidents  and  has  been 
honored  alike  in  the  North  and  South  by  both  the  white 
and  black  citizens  of  his  native  land. 

The  announcement  of  his  coming  to  Dothan  made  a 
sensation.  Legree  and  his  henchmen  made  no  conceal- 
ment of  their  disgust  and  opposition,  but  the  vast  ma- 
jority of  the  whites  were  eager  to  see  and  hear  the  gifted 
Afro-American  of  Alabama,  whose  fame  had  girdled  the 
world. 

Led  by  the  Waynors,  over  whom  Rose  retained  a  re- 
markable influence,  Dothan's  best  society  encouraged  the 
enterprise,  and  even  Rev.  William  Durham,  to  the  sur- 
prise of  his  congregation,  failed  to  thunder  against  this 
"  invasion  of  the  integrity  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  and 
dastardly  attempt  to  overwhelm  our  American  civiliza- 
tion in  black  ruin,"  as  he  had  often  done  formerly  when 
he  saw  any  honor  being  placed  upon  a  negro.  Legree 
had  called  on  the  minister  when  the  visit  was  first  an- 
nounced and  began  abruptly: 


BOOKER  WASHINGTON  VISITS  DOTHAN     83 

"  Mr.  Durham,  did  you  hear  that  those  Harbison  Yan- 
kees have  invited  that  fool  nigger  Washington  to  come  to 
Dothan?  It  is  an  insult,  sir,  to  every  white  man  in 
Dothan.  That  nigger  is  doing  more  to  spoil  the  blacks 
than  any  man  in  the  South." 

"  I  have  always  heard  Booker  T.  Washington  referred 
to  as  a  man  of  remarkable  talents  and  of  upright  charac- 
ter," parried  the  minister,  to  Legree's  astonishment. 

"  But  he's  a  nigger  preacher,"  rejoined  Legree  with  a 
dark  frown,  "  and  no  nigger  is  fit  to  speak  to  a  white 
audience." 

The  insolent  bearing  and  brutal  nature  of  Dothan's 
"  boss  "  repelled  Mr.  Durham  that  morning  as  never  be- 
fore. He  could  not  help  inwardly  comparing  the  talented 
scholar  and  cultured  Christian  gentleman,  Booker  T. 
Washington,  whom  he  had  once  heard,  with  this  bullet- 
headed,  short-necked,  uncultured  and  positively  vulgar 
white  man. 

"  I  see  nothing  that  I  can  do  in  regard  to  the  mat- 
ter," the  minister  responded,  rising  and  bowing  the 
amazed  and  disappointed  Legree  out  of  the  parsonage. 
"  The  white  people  of  Dothan,"  continued  Mr.  Durham 
at  the  door,  "  all  seem  glad  that  they  will  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  see  Washington  and  I  do  not  think  he  can  harm 
us.     His  views  are  well  known  anyway." 

Legree  left  the  parsonage  in  high  dudgeon.  "  Since  that 
accursed  Lilly  and  that  fool  Yankee  teacher  have  come  to 
town  the  niggers  are  running  things,"  he  hissed  aloud. 
"  Even  the  preacher  has  let  them  fool  him,  but  they  can't 
fool  Legree.  I'll  soon  make  it  too  warm  in  Dothan  for 
that  Lilly  dude,  and  if  that  nigger  school  gets  too  impu- 
dent I  know  how  to  put  them  out  of  business  mighty 
quick,"  and  Dothan's  master  gnashed  his  teeth  in  his  rage. 

Booker  T.  Washington  arrived  on  the  afternoon  train. 


84  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

He  was  met  at  the  station  by  a  tremendous  crowd.  The 
colored  people  were  out  en  masse.  Every  pickaninny, 
every  black  boy  and  girl,  every  negro  and  negress  in  the 
whole  country,  seemed  to  know  of  the  coming  of  their 
mighty  representative.  But  the  whites  were  there  also 
in  large  numbers,  all  eager  to  welcome  the  man  who  had 
climbed  to  the  top  of  the  ladder,  although  he  began  life  in 
the  miry  pit  of  slavery  and  abject  poverty. 

When  the  train  pulled  in  there  was  excitement  in  the 
very  atmosphere.  The  crowd  stood  on  tiptoe.  At  last 
out  of  the  Jim  Crow  car  came  the  hero  of  the  occasion. 
A  fine  looking,  straight  black  man  stepped  on  the  plat- 
form and  looked  around.  A  mighty  cheer  went  up  from 
the  vast  crowd  as  they  recognized  the  famous  negro  edu- 
cator and  orator. 

Donald  Shelby  was  standing  near  by,  and  he  marked 
the  high  forehead,  heavy  jaws,  determined  mouth  and 
noble  bearing  of  the  man. 

"  A  born  leader,"  he  said  to  himself.  A  moment  later, 
as  he  saw  Washington  smile,  showing  his  big,  white 
teeth  and  thick  lips,  he  thought,  *  And  yet  the  man  is  a 
real  negro." 

Dr.  Furber,  of  Harbison  Institute,  was  at  the  depot 
with  a  carriage  to  meet  the  distinguished  visitor,  and  the 
black  president  of  Tuskegee  Institute  was  soon  seated 
beside  the  white  president  of  Harbison.  The  two  edu- 
cators were  evidently  acquainted,  as  they  shook  hands 
warmly  without  any  introduction.  As  soon  as  the  carriage 
started  the  pent-up  enthusiasm  of  the  crowd  broke  loose. 
Hats  were  thrown  in  the  air,  handkerchiefs  were  waved, 
canes  were  flourished  and  the  immense  throng  cheered 
itself  hoarse.  The  whites  as  well  as  the  blacks  caught 
the  contagion.  Donald  Shelby  found  himself  yelling  like 
an  Apache  Indian.     When  the  carriage  had  driven  away 


BOOKER  WASHINGTON  VISITS  DOTHAN     85 

and  the  crowd  was  scattering,  all  talking  in  animation, 
Donald  was  amused  to  hear  the  comments  of  the  excited 
negroes.  One  black  man  near  him  exclaimed :  "  Dat's 
de  man  of  my  race  what's  gwine  to  speak  to-night.  I'se 
sho'  gwine  to  heah  him."  Another  big  fellow  was  say- 
ing :  "  Dat's  Massa  Washington !  He's  powerfu'  fine 
niggah."  Another  shouted :  "  I'se  sho'  happy  now.  I'se 
seen  de  biggest  man  in  all  de  world." 

Dr.  Furber  drove  his  guest  to  Harbison,  where  Dr. 
Washington  addressed  the  students  in  the  chapel.  His 
address  was  a  plain,  practical  talk  on  the  opportunities 
in  Alabama  for  the  industrious  and  intelligent  negro.  He 
praised  the  work  of  Harbison  and  said  he  had  some  of 
their  graduates  as  professors  in  Tuskegee.  "  And  I  see 
some  more  young  men  before  me,"  continued  the  speaker, 
looking  around  on  the  eager  students,  "  who  look  to  me 
as  men  who  would  make  excellent  leaders  of  our  race. 
I  am  always  ready  to  assist  a  worthy  young  man  to  a 
place  of  trust  and  responsibility."  He  commended  work 
as  the  first  essential.  He  called  all  work  honorable.  "  It 
is  just  as  great  and  noble,"  he  exclaimed  in  thunder 
tones,  "  to  plow  a  field  aright  as  it  is  to  write  a  poem  or 
govern  a  State.  Be  practical.  The  negro  has  been 
worked  for  centuries.  It  is  high  time  he  should  begin 
to  learn  how  to  work  himself." 

Nafti  Thomas  sat  near  the  front  and  his  intense  inter- 
est during  the  address  attracted  the  speaker's  attention. 
"  Who  is  that  young  man  in  the  third  seat  from  the 
front  ?  "  he  asked  Dr.  Furber  when  his  address  was  over. 
"  That  is  Nafti  Thomas,"  he  responded.  "  I  will  call  him 
up  to  the  platform.  He  is  one  of  our  brightest  students 
and  I  have  arranged  for  you  to  stay  at  his  father's  home 
to-night.  His  father  is  the  most  worthy  negro  in  Dothan 
and  I  thought  you  would  like  to  stay  with  them,  although 


86  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

it  is  an  humble  home."  "  I  shall  be  greatly  pleased  to 
meet  the  young  man,"  said  Dr.  Washington.  He  greeted 
Nafti  with  a  hearty  handshake,  saying,  "  I  noticed  you 
in  the  audience  and  I  was  pleased  to  see  your  interest  in 
my  talk." 

The  boy  was  delighted  at  this  notice  and  looked  up 
reverently  at  Dr.  Washington  as  he  said,  "  I  have  long 
wanted  to  see  and  hear  you,  Doctor,  and  I  cannot  tell 
you  how  happy  I  am  to  meet  you.  Father  is  so  proud 
you  are  to  stay  at  his  home  to-night." 

The  other  students  came  up  and  all  were  greeted  most 
cordially  by  the  visitor. 

A  little  later  the  carriage  was  driven  around  in  front 
and  Booker  T.  Washington  entered  it,  accompanied  by 
Nafti  Thomas.  They  were  driven  to  the  home  of  Mose 
•Thomas,  who  was  to  be  the  proud  host  of  Massa  Wash- 
ington. There  was  not  a  colored  family  in  town  that 
did  not  envy  Mr.  Thomas  that  day,  but  they  all  agreed 
that  Mose  was  worthy  of  the  honor.  As  a  compliment  to 
their  guest,  Dr.  Furber  and  Rose  Atkinson  followed  in 
another  carriage,  driving  all  the  way  to  the  home  of 
Nafti.  The  two  carriages  drove  through  the  main  streets 
of  Dothan,  and  one  unpleasant  incident  marred  the  occa- 
sion. At  a  prominent  street  corner  were  a  crowd  of 
rough-looking  fellows,  among  whom  Rose  detected  Le- 
gree  himself,  and  when  the  carriages  were  opposite  them 
deep  groans  and  hisses  arose  from  the  company  of 
loafers. 

Booker  T.  Washington  only  smiled  at  this  evidence  of 
his  unpopularity,  showing  his  white  teeth,  but  Rose  ex- 
claimed almost  triumphantly  to  Dr.  Furber :  "  That  is 
Legree  and  his  men.  He  formerly  was  able  to  lead  the 
whole  white  population  in  his  demonstrations  of  that 
sort,  but  now  you  see  he  only  has  a  dozen  or  two.    Don't 


BOOKER  WASHINGTON  VISITS  DOTHAN     87 

fear,  Dr.  Furber,  the  white  people  of  Dothan  will  be  out 
to-night  to  give  the  speaker  a  respectful  hearing,  and  I  am 
convinced  that  to-day  marks  the  beginning  of  a  moral 
revolution  in  this  community." 

Mose  Thomas,  his  left  arm  still  crippled  from  the  at- 
tack made  on  him  the  day  Jefferson  Lilly  saved  his  life, 
received  his  honored  guest  with  every  demonstration  of 
pleasure.  The  two-room  cottage  had  been  cleaned  and 
dusted.  One  whole  room  was  set  apart  for  "  Massa 
Washington,"  and  the  other  room,  rather  large,  but  not 
quite  big  enough  for  the  various  uses  to  which  it  was  to 
be  put  that  night,  was  almost  filled  with  a  great  dining 
table.  Mose  had  received  assistance  from  some  of  his 
neighbors  and  there  was  a  large  company,  including  two 
or  three  negro  ministers,  to  meet  the  hero  of  the  occa- 
sion. The  chief  guest,  next  to  Dr.  Washington,  was  Dr.  ■ 
Brown,  the  pastor  of  the  largest  colored  congregation 
in  the  city  and  a  man  of  genuine  worth  in  ability  and 
character. 

Nafti  was  in  his  glory.  He  introduced  the  Tuskegee 
educator  to  the  company  and  no  Ambassador  at  the  Court 
of  St.  James,  introducing  distinguished  Americans  to  the 
crowned  head  of  England,  was  ever  prouder  of  his  posi- 
tion than  Nafti  was  of  his  that  night.  Dr.  Washington's 
interest  in  the  young  negro  increased,  and  he  finally  said 
to  his  host :  "  I  will  want  that  boy  of  yours  to  come  to 
Tuskegee  some  day  as  a  professor." 

Tears  came  to  the  old  black  man's  eyes.  "  God  knows, 
Massa  Washington,"  he  replied  brokenly,  "  I'se  only  a 
poor  ole  ignorant  man,  but  if  Nafti  can  eber  help  you  to 
make  better  men  and  better  women  for  de  colored  race 
I'se  will  die  happy." 

"  The  negro  race  is  improving  every  year,  Mr. 
Thomas,"  responded  his  guest,  "  and  I  feel  confident  that 


88  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

your  boy  will  have  a  large  part  in  the  coming  generation 
in  lifting  up  our  people." 

At  a  later  time  both  Booker  T.  Washington  and  Mose 
Thomas  thought  of  these  words.  Neither  yet  knew,  for- 
tunately, the  tragic  way  in  which  Nafti  was  to  be  of 
service  to  the  American  negroes. 

Although  he  had  mingled  with  the  highest  dignitaries 
of  earth  the  president  of  Tuskegee  was  entirely  at  home 
in  his  humble  surroundings  in  Dothan.  He  entertained 
the  company  at  supper  time  with  many  stories  of  his  first 
years  in  Alabama.  He  told  of  the  old  way  in  those  days, 
when  the  whole  family,  baby  and  all,  went  to  work  in 
the  cotton  field  as  soon  as  breakfast  was  over.  "  I  have 
heard  that  things  are  so  different  now  that  one  of  your, 
planters  near  Dothan  has  tried  to  get  the  school  on  his 
plantation  closed  because  the  whole  family  had  begun 
going  to  school,  father  and  all.  Is  that  so?"  he  asked 
Nafti  with  a  smile.  "  Yes,  sir,"  the  boy  replied.  "  Our 
people  around  here  not  only  send  the  children  to  school 
now  whenever  they  have  a  school  to  send  them  to,  but 
they  go  themselves." 

"  We  must  organize  night  schools  all  over  Alabama," 
responded  the  great  educator,  "  which  can  be  kept  open 
during  the  dull  seasons.  It  is  too  bad  to  keep  a  single 
negro  ignorant  of  reading  and  writing  if  he  really  wants 
to  learn." 

Booker  T.  Washington  is  a  capital  story  teller  and  he 
kept  the  company  in  convulsions  of  laughter  as  he  told 
some  such  incidents  as  this : 

"  Mr.  Thomas,"  he  began,  "  did  you  ever  hear  of 
Uncle  Zeke's  pig  and  the  trouble  it  caused  him  ?  " 

"  No,  Massa  Washington,"  his  host  replied. 

"  It  was  like  this,"  the  guest  responded.  "  Uncle  Zeke 
had  a  pig  for  sale  and  along  came  a  white  man  and 


BOOKER  WASHINGTON  VISITS  DOTHAN     89 

bought  the  pig  for  $3.  On  the  way  home  the  pig  got  out 
of  the  cart  and  returned  promptly  to  Uncle  Zeke's  house 
and  about  noon  a  second  white  man  came  to  Uncle 
Zeke's  cabin  in  search  of  a  pig,  and  Uncle  Zeke,  over- 
come by  the  temptation  to  make  double  money  on  his  pig, 
sold  it  again  for  $3.  On  his  way  home  the  second  man 
met  the  first  and  the  first  white  man  said  to  the  second 
white  man,  '  That  is  my  pig.  I  bought  it  from  Uncle 
Zeke  this  morning  at  eight  o'clock  for  $3/  And  the  sec- 
ond white  man  said,  '  No,  sir,  it  is  mine,  for  I  bought  it 
from  him  to-day  at  twelve  o'clock  for  $3.'  So  they  ar- 
gued the  question  and  could  not  decide  whose  pig  it  was, 
and  they  decided  finally  to  put  the  question  before  Uncle 
Zeke.  They  rode  up  and  called  him  out  and  the  first 
white  man  said, '  Uncle  Zeke,  did  you  not  sell  me  this  pig 
this  morning  for  $3?'  'I  surely  did,  boss.'  Then  the 
second  white  man  exclaimed,  '  Uncle  Zeke,  did  you  not 
sell  me  that  pig  to-day  at  twelve  o'clock  for  $3  ? '  'I 
surely  did,  boss.'  *  What  do  you  mean  by  treating  us  this 
way  ?  '  cried  both  the  white  men  at  once.  '  Before  God, 
boss,  can't  you  white  people  go  off  and  settle  this  thing 
yourselves  without  troubling  a  poor  niggah  ?  '  " 

Roars  of  laughter  greeted  the  story  of  Uncle  Zeke,  and 
then  the  story  teller  quietly  said  that  there  were  lots  of 
questions  which  troubled  white  men  about  the  negroes 
which  the  colored  man  ought  to  let  them  settle  among 
themselves.  "  This  is  why  I  have  not  given  myself  to 
politics  as  much  as  some  of  my  friends  would  like  to  see 
me,"  he  said. 

When  the  supper  was  over  it  was  soon  time  to  leave 
for  the  Academy  of  Music,  where  the  far-famed  black 
man  was  to  speak. 

Dr.  Furber,  accompanied  by  Hon.  W.  H.  Fleming,  of 
Augusta,  Ga.,  called  for  Booker  T.  Washington  and  he 


90  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

was  driven  in  the  carriage  with  them  to  the  place  of 
meeting.  Rose  Atkinson  had  succeeded  in  persuading 
Mr.  Fleming  to  come  to  Dothan  to  introduce  Dr.  Wash- 
ington, and  with  his  presence  she  was  confident  of  a  suc- 
cessful meeting.  The  great  building  was  already 
crowded  when  Dr.  Furber  and  his  guests  arrived.  Quite 
a  few  of  the  whites  were  anxious  to  hear  the  negro  and 
had  sympathy  with  him,  but  the  majority  came  from  cu- 
riosity, many  of  them  thinking  they  would  hear  the 
speaker  make  a  fool  of  himself  and  hurt  instead  of  help 
Harbison  Institute.  The  colored  people,  of  course,  to 
a  man  were  enthusiastic  and  expectant.  When  they 
took  their  seats  on  the  platform  Dr.  Furber,  glancing 
through  the  audience,  saw  Rev.  William  Durham  in  a 
prominent  place,  with  Deacon  Leavitt,  one  of  his  chief 
members,  by  his  side.  The  Waynors  were  out  in  force, 
accompanied  by  Dothan's  best  society.  Donald  Shelby 
and  Jefferson  Lilly  were  seated  together  near  the  front. 
The  Ashleys  were  absent,  but  Dr.  Furber  had  heard  that 
they  were  out  of  town.  Legree  was  not  in  sight  any- 
where, although  a  few  of  his  well-known  henchmen  were 
scattered  here  and  there  in  the  audience,  with  no  good 
purpose  in  their  minds,  Dr.  Furber  felt  sure. 

When  Booker  T.  Washington  ascended  the  platform 
the  colored  part  of  the  audience  gave  a  loud  cheer,  but 
most  of  the  whites  were  silent. 

In  a  few  minutes  Hon.  W.  H.  Fleming  arose  and  walk- 
ing to  the  front  of  the  platform  began  with  these  memo- 
rable words: 

"  I  am  pleased  to  preside  at  this  meeting  to-night,  for 
I  am  confident  that  it  will  mean  much  both  to  the  whites 
and  the  blacks  of  this  community.  We  often  hear  the 
epigrammatic  dictum  that  there  are  but  three  solutions  of 
our  race  problem  —  deportation,  assimilation  and  annihi- 


BOOKER  WASHINGTON  VISITS  DOTHAN     91 

lation.  When  we  bring  our  sober  senses  to  bear  all  three 
of  these  so-called  possibilities  appear  to  be  practical  im- 
possibilities. Not  one  of  these  three  presents  a  working 
hypothesis. 

"  Physical  facts  alone  prevent  deportation.  Physical 
facts,  stressed  by  an  ineradicable  race  pride,  bar  the  way 
against  assimilation.  Physical  facts,  backed  by  our  re- 
ligion, our  civilization,  our  very  selves,  forbid  annihila- 
tion. We  cannot  imitate  Herod.  Over  against  that 
trinity  of  impossibilities  —  deportation,  assimilation,  an- 
nihilation—  let  us  offer  the  simple  plan  of  justice." 

A  loud  cheer  and  applause  from  all  over  the  mighty 
audience  greeted  this  last  sentence,  for  the  word  "  jus- 
tice "  is  a  talisman  to  every  heart,  white,  black,  red  or 
copper-colored  though  the  skin  may  be. 

When  quiet  was  restored  Mr.  Fleming  concluded :  "  I 
take  pleasure  in  introducing  to  you  to-night  a  man  who 
has  worked  out  the  question  of  how  to  solve  our  race 
problem  by  the  principles  of  justice  and  Christianity." 

Mr.  Fleming  sat  down  and  all  eyes  turned  on  Booker 
T.  Washington. 


CHAPTER  IX 

A'   NEGRO  ORATOR 

When  the  Hon.  W.  H.  Fleming  had  finished  his  in- 
troductory speech  Booker  T.  Washington  rose  to  his  feet, 
stretched  himself  to  his  full  height  and  strode  to  the  front 
of  the  platform.  It  was  a  thrilling  moment.  The  air 
was  quivering  with  excitement.  The  few  words  which 
Mr.  Fleming  had  spoken  had  enthused  the  entire  audi- 
ence, and  the  personal  magnetism  of  the  great  president 
of  Tuskegee  held  all  enthralled.  The  colored  people 
rose  to  their  feet  as  one  man ;  then,  here  and  there,  the 
whites  began  to  stand,  until  practically  the  entire  audi- 
ence was  on  its  feet,  and  cheer  after  cheer  resounded 
through  the  entire  building. 

"  We  have  won !  We  have  won  1 "  said  Rose  Atkin- 
son to  herself.  She  was  seated  with  the  Waynors,  and 
all  around  her  the  cheering  was  exuberant  and  spon- 
taneous. In  spite  of  his  color  the  whites  were  not  able  to 
forbid  the  tribute  which  men  always  give  to  their  fellows 
when  a  noble  lifework  has  been  achieved. 

As  soon  as  he  could  make  himself  heard  the  negro 
orator  lifted  up  his  voice  like  a  trumpet  and  his  first  sen- 
tence struck  home.  "  One-third  of  the  population  of 
the  South  is  of  the  negro  race,"  he  shouted,  and  a  tense 
silence  pervaded  the  audience.  All  were  watching  that 
strong,  commanding  figure  on  the  platform.  His  black 
face  beamed  with  intelligence.  His  piercing  eyes  sur- 
veyed the  crowded  arena  before  him  without  a  blink  of 

92 


A  NEGRO  ORATOR  93 

the  eyelids.  His  look  of  strength  and  his  noble  bearing 
made  their  impression  on  all,  but  on  none  more  than  on 
Rev.  William  Durham.  Ever  since  the  visit  Rose  Atkin- 
son made  to  his  study,  following  his  annual  missionary 
sermon,  Mr.  Durham  had  been  pondering  over  her  words. 
They  made  an  abiding  impression  on  him.  He  could 
never  forget  her  look  of  energy  of  soul  as  she  denounced 
him  as  a  false  representative  of  Christ  toward  the  negroes 
in  Alabama.  He  watched  the  black  educator  intently, 
never  taking  his  eyes  off  his  shining  face.  At  last  he  said 
to  himself :  "  He  is  a  complete  man,  God's  image  cut  in 
ebony.  Other  negroes  may  fall  below  the  human  level, 
but  Booker  T.  Washington  is  a  man." 

"  To  reach  the  highest  success  any  enterprise  of  the 
South  must  have  the  cooperation  of  my  race,"  continued 
the  speaker.  "  Sixteen  million  hands  cannot  be  ignored. 
They  will  either  aid  the  South  in  pulling  upward  or  they 
will  help  in  pulling  downward.  We  must  either  be  an 
essential  factor  in  the  business  and  industrial  prosperity 
of  the  South  or  we  shall  prove  a  veritable  body  of  death, 
stagnating  and  depressing,  dragging  all  down  in  common 
ruin." 

The  orator  now  had  the  attention  of  every  man  and 
woman  in  the  vast  throng.  Men  were  leaning  forward  to 
hear.  There  was  boldness,  a  directness  and  a  ring  of 
truth  and  sincerity  in  the  black  man's  speech  that  was 
startling. 

"The  wisest  among  my  race,"  he  continued  after  he 
had  enlivened  his  address  with  a  humorous  story,  "  un- 
derstand the  agitation  of  questions  of  social  equality  is 
the  extremest  folly."  (As  he  uttered  these  words  the 
whites  began  to  listen  more  eagerly  than  ever. )  "  We 
are  all  well  aware  that  progress  in  the  enjoyment  of  all 
the  privileges  that  come  to  us  must  be  the  result  of  severe 


94.  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

and  constant  struggle  rather  than  of  artificial  forcing, 
but  the  time  has  come  for  all  of  us  to  understand  that  in 
negro  education  lies  the  salvation  of  our  beloved  South- 
land." 

Then  he  turned  to  the  whites  in  the  audience  and  made 
a  plea  for  toleration.  "  You  of  the  white,  whose  ad- 
vantages are  so  much  higher  than  ours,  must  learn  to  be 
patient  with  the  black  man.  Remember  the  past  of  the 
negro.  It  was  a  crime  to  teach  him  in  former  years. 
He  was  born  in  servitude  and  reared  in  ignorance. 
Starting  something  less  than  fifty  years  ago,  with  only  a 
few  pumpkins  and  quilts,  see  how,  in  less  than  a  half 
century,  we  have  acquired  $300,000,000  worth  of  prop- 
erty, on  which  we  pay  taxes  every  year.  Does  that  show 
the  negro  can  never  rise  ?  "  he  asked  in  stentorian  tones. 
"  I  revere  the  names  of  '  Stonewall '  Jackson  and  Robert 
E.  Lee."  At  the  mention  of  these  heroes  of  the  South 
the  applause  from  the  whites  especially  was  tremendous. 
"  They  led  in  the  work  of  educating  the  negro,"  said  the 
orator.  "  In  the  midst  of  the  war  both  of  them  were 
interested  in  teaching  the  negroes  in  Sunday  schools,  and 
where  such  men  have  led  the  South  can  afford  to  follow. 
The  problems  that  confront  us  in  the  South,  like  the 
problems  before  other  men  in  other  parts  of  the  world, 
can  have  no  solution  whatever  except  as  the  solution  is 
based  upon  the  teachings  of  the  Bible  and  the  spirit  of 
the  Christ." 

As  Booker  T.  Washington  said  these  words  with  an 
earnestness  that  was  almost  terrible  you  could  have  heard 
a  pin  drop  in  the  auditorium.  The  words  sank  deep  into 
many  hearts,  never  to  be  forgotten. 

"  I  am  for  education  for  everybody,"  continued  the 
educator.  "  I  want  education  to  be  as  common  as  grass 
and  as  free  as  the  sunshine  and  the  air.     It  is  the  com- 


A  NEGRO  ORATOR  95 

mon  hope  of  all.  We  have  nothing  to  expect  from  ig- 
norance and  degradation  but  death.  We  have  every- 
thing to  hope  for  from  an  intelligent  and  educated  negro 
race,  who  learn  to  contribute  to  the  common  weal  their 
full  share  of  toil  and  labor.  It  is  just  as  much  the  Chris- 
tian duty  for  the  influential  white  men  and  women  to  help 
save  the  negro  at  their  doors  as  it  is  to  help  redeem  the 
heathen  in  Africa."  This  was  a  bold  thrust  and  it  went 
through  the  armor  of  Deacon  Leavitt,  sitting  by  the  side 
of  his  pastor.  "  It's  true,  it's  true,"  he  said  to  himself, 
looking  sidewise  at  his  minister  to  see  how  Mr.  Durham 
was  taking  the  negro's  thrusts.  Mr.  Durham  was  listen- 
ing, entirely  absorbed  in  the  speaker. 

"  I  am  reminded  of  a  colored  man  who  lives  in  Mont- 
gomery," continued  the  orator,  smiling  broadly  and  show- 
ing beforehand  that  he  was  going  to  relieve  the  tension 
with  a  story.  "  This  colored  man  had  been  before  the 
court  several  times,  always  on  the  one  charge  of  not  liv- 
ing peaceably  with  his  wife.  When  he  appeared  before 
the  judge  for  the  fifth  time  the  judge  was  somewhat  im- 
patient. '  Uncle  Silas/  he  exclaimed,  '  five  times  you 
have  been  here  on  that  charge.  You  must  go  home  and 
live  in  peace  with  your  wife ;  you  and  your  wife  are  one 
and  you  must  live  peaceably ;  there  must  be  no  more  dis- 
turbance. You  are  one.'  The  old  fellow  got  up,  made  a 
low  bow  and  said,  '  Yes,  I  understand  it ;  I  understand 
all  about  that ;  I  know ;  that  is  where  the  trouble  is,  to  get 
mah  wife  to  understand  that  I  is  the  one/  " 

There  was  an  outburst  of  laughter,  and  then,  in  a  pa- 
thetic tone  of  voice,  the  speaker  went  on :  "  We  draw 
hard  and  sharp  color  lines,  but  God  has  delicately  inter- 
woven the  interests  of  the  two  races,  so  that  one  cannot 
prosper  without  the  other.  A  few  yards  from  the  man- 
sion of  a  cultured  white  family  there  lived  an  ignorant 


96  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

negro  family  in  filth  and  poverty.  The  laundry  work 
from  this  white  mansion  was  done  every  week  in  the  mis- 
erable dirty  shanty.  A  deadly  contagious  disease  in  the 
old  negro  cabin,  through  the  medium  of  the  laundry,  was 
conveyed  into  the  home  of  this  rich  and  cultured  family 
and  a  beautiful  daughter  lay  upon  her  dying  bed.  Hear 
me !  Oh,  hear  me,  men  and  women  of  the  South !  Death 
and  disease  draw  no  color  line." 

There  was  one  sentence  which  riveted  the  attention  of 
all.  It  was  the  sentiment  which  Rose  Atkinson  had  given 
to  Mr.  Durham  in  her  interview  with  the  minister.  "  In 
all  things  that  are  purely  social,"  he  shouted,  thrusting 
out  his  big  black  hand  with  the  fingers  apart,  "  we  can  be 
as  separate  as  the  fingers  of  the  hand,  yet " —  here  he 
closed  his  hand  — "  one  as  the  hand  in  all  things  essential 
to  mutual  progress."  These  words  sounded  like  a  revela- 
tion to  a  large  part  of  the  whites  in  the  audience.  The 
power  of  Legree  was  crumbling.  This  negro  orator  was 
charging  the  breastworks  of  Legreeism  and  winning  at 
every  point.  The  impassioned  speaker  closed  with  a  ten- 
der plea.  "  The  negro  in  the  South  has  some  claim  upon 
your  sympathy.  We  are  not  foreigners  nor  aliens.  You 
understand  us  and  we  understand  you,  and  you  know  that 
when  the  time  comes  there  are  thousands  of  black  men 
ready  to  lay  down  their  lives  to  protect  white  families 
throughout  the  South.  We  have  helped  to  clear  the  for- 
ests, till  the  fields,  build  the  railroads,  tunnel  the  moun- 
tains, and  for  years  we  have  cooked  your  food  and  nursed 
your  children  and  we  will  do  it  for  years  to  come.  In 
proportion  as  the  negro  is  educated  in  such  schools  as 
Harbison  Institute  he  becomes  a  more  useful  negro.  Go 
through  the  jails  and  penitentiaries  of  the  South  and 
you  will  not  find  twoscore  of  men  with  industrial  school 
diplomas.     The  criminal  negroes  have  had  no  chance. 


A  NEGRO  ORATOR  97 

They  are  the  ignorant,  degraded  ones  and  it  is  our  duty 
to  lift  them  up." 

The  conclusion  was  overpowering  in  its  pathos. 

"  I  was  in  the  city  of  Richmond  some  time  ago  and  I 
heard  a  story  concerning  an  old  black  man  there.  He 
was  living  in  the  same  house  where  his  mistress  had  lived 
during  slavery,  and  she  had  planted  with  her  own  hands 
a  rosebush  in  the  yard.  A  new  tenant  took  possession 
and  the  new  mistress  said  to  the  colored  man,  '  Dig  up 
that  rosebush/  The  old  man  hesitated  and  with  a  tear  in 
his  eye  shook  his  head  and  went  behind  the  house.  Again 
the  lady  came  out  and  said,  '  Dig  up  that  rosebush/  and 
he  came  up  to  her,  touched  his  hat,  made  a  polite  bow 
and  said,  '  Missus,  I  likes  you,  I  want  to  obey  you,  but, 
Missus,  you  don't  understand  —  these  old  hands  can't  dig 
up  that  rosebush;  that  rosebush  was  planted  fifty  years 
ago  by  my  old  Missus  and  these  hands  can't  dig  it  up ;  you 
must  excuse  me,  Missus/  The  feeling  of  sympathy  " — 
there  was  a  tear  in  Washington's  eye  and  his  voice  was 
tender  now  — "  the  feeling  of  friendship  between  the 
black  people  and  the  white  people  of  the  Southland  was 
planted  here  years  ago  by  our  forefathers.  We  who  are 
following  in  their  footsteps,  black  men  and  white  men, 
must  not  dig  up  that  old  rosebush.  Let  it  grow,  and  far' 
above  and  beyond  material  benefits  will  be  that  higher 
good  that,  let  us  pray  God,  will  come  in  a  blotting  out  of 
sectional  differences  and  racial  animosities  and  suspicions, 
in  a  determination  to  administer  absolute  justice,  in  a 
willing  obedience  among  all  classes  to  the  mandates  of  the 
law.  This  —  this,  coupled  with  our  material  prosperity, 
will  bring  into  our  beloved  South  a  new  heaven  and  a 
new  earth." 

The  orator  ceased  and  stood  a  moment  with  his  right 
hand  uplifted.     Then  he  turned  and  resumed  his  seat. 


98  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Mr.  Fleming  rushed  across  the  platform  to  his  side  and 
took  him  by  the  hands.  The  pent-up  feelings  of  the  audi- 
ence broke  loose.  The  dense  throng  rose  as  one  person, 
shouting,  cheering,  waving  hats,  canes,  umbrellas,  hand- 
kerchiefs, everything.  It  was  a  victory  for  Harbison  In- 
stitute, but  all  felt  it  was  their  victory.  Bondage  had 
ceased.  The  awful  black  menace  was,  after  all,  no 
menace  at  all,  but  a  call  to  duty,  to  sympathy,  to  service. 
Rose  Atkinson  was  overjoyed.  "  The  future  course  of 
Harbison  will  be  smooth,"  she  congratulated  herself. 

Donald  Shelby  and  Jefferson  Lilly  were  also  in  a 
happy  frame  of  mind.  "  Legree  is  done  for  after  that," 
remarked  Jefferson  to  his  friend.  "  The  old  regime  is 
over.  Dothan  will  soon  be  a  safe  place  for  even  such 
a  liberal-minded  man  as  I  am,"  and  he  smiled.  Ah,  lit- 
tle did  either  Rose  Atkinson  or  Jefferson  Lilly  realize 
that  a  leopard,  even  if  it  is  a  dying  leopard,  can  bite  and 
tear  with  savage  fury. 


CHAPTER  X 

A   SUNDAY    IN    THE    WOODS    OF    ALABAMA 

It  was  on  a  Friday  evening  that  Booker  T.  Wash- 
ington gave  his  epoch-making  speech  in  Dothan.  On  the 
following  Sunday  morning  Jefferson  Lilly  was  strolling 
along  the  streets,  expecting  to  attend  service  at  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Durham's  church  that  day.  Around  a  corner,  walk- 
ing at  a  brisk  pace,  came  a  well-dressed  colored  youth, 
carrying  a  basket.  Jefferson  at  once  recognized  him  as 
Nafti  Thomas  and  greeted  him  cordially. 

"  Where  are  you  going,  Nafti  ?  "  he  asked.  "  To  a 
Sunday  picnic  ?  " 

"  Not  exactly,"  replied  Nafti,  grinning.  "  We  are  to 
have  an  all-day  meeting  to-day  in  the  woods,  and  I  am 
going  out  to  enjoy  it." 

"  What  kind  of  a  meeting  is  it  ?  "  asked  the  other,  walk- 
ing alongside  the  negro  lad. 

"  It  is  a  kind  of  camp  meeting.  We  have  one  every 
year  about  this  time  in  the  spring.  We  expect  a  Virginia 
preacher  to-day.  We  tried  to  get  Booker  T.  Washing- 
ton to  stay  over  and  address  us,  but  he  was  compelled  to 
return  to  Tuskegee." 

"  How  did  the  Harbison  people  like  Washington  ? " 
asked  Jefferson,  eager  to  know  what  Rose  Atkinson 
thought  of  the  Friday  night  meeting. 

"  They  are  all  delighted  with  the  results.  Dr.  Furber 
feels  that  a  new  era  has  already  begun  in  Dothan  and 
that  a  great  future  now  awaits  Harbison,  as  he  thinks 

99 


100  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

the  sympathy  and  cooperation  of  the  whites  is  now  as- 
sured." 

"  There  is  certainly  a  new  atmosphere  in  the  town 
already,"  rejoined  Jefferson,  who  had  been  an  interested 
listener  to  many  remarks  on  the  streets  since  the  eventful 
speech  of  the  Tuskegee  orator. 

"  Come  out  to  our  meeting  in  the  woods  to-day,  sir," 
said  Nafti,  after  they  had  walked  a  few  blocks  together. 
"  You  will  enjoy  it,  I  am  sure,  since  you  seem  interested 
in  our  race." 

In  his  innocence  the  youth  did  not  realize  what  such 
an  invitation  meant,  nor  did  Jefferson  Lilly  understand 
what  a  mistake  he  was  about  to  make  when  he  accepted  it 
thoughtlessly. 

"  This  is  an  ideal  day  for  a  trip  to  the  woods !  "  he  ex- 
claimed.    "  I  will  go  with  you." 

Accordingly  Nafti  and  Jefferson  were  soon  walking 
out  on  the  country  roads.  They  passed  the  spot  where 
Jefferson  had  picked  up  Nafti's  unconscious  father  some 
weeks  before.  It  was  but  a  short  time  ago,  but  to  Jeffer- 
son it  seemed  like  an  age.  His  whole  outlook  on  life  had 
changed  since  that  fateful  day.  Everything  seemed 
somehow  to  be  different  now. 

"  Here  is  where  I  found  your  father  lying  helpless," 
said  Jefferson,  pausing  and  going  to  the  side  of  the  road. 

"  Poor  father !  "  rejoined  the  boy.  "  He  has  never 
been  really  the  same  since  that  day.  I  don't  think  he  will 
ever  get  over  it  altogether,  but  the  doctor  told  us  that  he 
would  surely  have  died  if  you  had  not  come  to  his  relief. 
Martha  and  I  often  say  that  we  owe  a  great  deal  to 
you." 

Jefferson  Lilly  was  silent ;  he  was  thinking  of  the  chain 
of  events  that  hung  already  on  that  single  act  of  mercy, 
and  how  momentous  were  the  issues  that  might  still  re- 


A  SUNDAY  IN  THE  WOODS  101 

suit.  Since  that  day,  in  a  manner  he  could  not  himself 
understand,  he  had  been  interested  in  the  negro  race, 
and  had  begun  to  think  of  them  as  human  beings,  and 
this  had  changed  his  entire  outlook  on  society  in  Ala- 
bama. 

"  We  must  hurry  on,"  said  Nafti,  arousing  his  com- 
panion out  of  his  meditations.  "  We  will  be  late  if  we 
delay  any  longer." 

They  soon  left  the  road  and  walked  through  the  fields 
and  groves.  Alabama  is  a  picturesque  State,  and  on  that 
lovely  morning  in  the  late  spring  Jefferson  felt  the  charm 
of  sylvan  beauty  fill  his  soul  with  joy.  There  was  an 
abundance  of  wild  flowers,  a  fragrance  in  the  air,  and  a 
quiet  stillness  over  nature  that  spoke  of  peace  and  Sab- 
bath rest.  As  they  approached  the  place  of  the  meeting 
they  could  see  others  tramping  through  the  woods,  and 
the  nearby  roads  were  filled  with  all  sorts  of  vehicles  car- 
rying the  colored  population  to  the  place  of  rendezvous. 
There  was  a  little  river  nearby,  and  in  an  open  space  in 
the  woods  preparations  had  been  made  for  a  great  open- 
air  service. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  when  Jefferson  Lilly  found 
himself  the  only  white  man  in  the  vast  throng  of  dusky 
worshipers  he  had  a  strange  feeling  of  loneliness,  and  he 
wondered  if  he  had  not  done  a  foolish  thing.  But  Nafti 
Thomas  remained  at  his  side,  and  introduced  him  to  a  few 
of  the  better  class  negroes,  so  that  he  began  rather  to 
enjoy  the  novel  experience.  He  could  hear  many  com- 
ments on  Booker  T.  Washington's  address,  and  it  was 
evident  that  the  negro  orator  had  made  a  deep  impression 
on  the  members  of  his  own  race.  Soon  the  singing  of  the 
great  congregation  began.  The  woods  were  filled  with 
the  sounds  of  sacred  song.  At  first  Jefferson  was  in- 
clined to  be  amused  at  the  volume  of  somewhat  discordant 


102  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

sound,  but,  as  the  song  service  proceeded,  and  more  fa- 
miliar hymns  were  sung,  he  was  moved  deeply.  The 
sight  of  thousands  of  black  men  and  black  women,  gath- 
ered together  in  Nature's  majestic  temple,  worshiping 
their  Creator  in  this  earnest  fashion,  appealed  to  the 
young  man,  who  had  spent  several  years  in  the  darkness 
of  intellectual  doubt.  The  religion  which  his  mother  had 
lived,  and  which  she  had  taught  to  him  in  his  childhood, 
seemed  to  become  a  reality  again,  as  the  mighty  throng 
sang  from  their  hearts  the  chorus  of  one  of  the  hymns : 

"  And  when  I  see  the  blood 
I  will  pass  over  you, 
I  will  pass  over  you." 

He  felt  a  pity  coming  into  his  heart  for  these  dark-skinned 
children  of  Africa,  whose  lot  in  life  had  been  rough  and 
hard  enough,  and  yet  who  held  on  unwaveringly  to  their 
faith  in  a  good  God,  who  was  their  friend. 

The  singing,  however,  was  the  most  impressive  part 
of  the  service,  for  when  the  sermon  began  Jefferson  lis- 
tened with  almost  uncontrolled  merriment  to  the  exhorta- 
tions of  the  old-style  Virginia  preacher,  who  had  been 
imported  for  the  occasion.  He  took  his  text  from  Psalm 
87  : 4,  "  And  of  Zion  it  shall  be  said,  This  and  that  man 
was  born  in  her." 

Looking  around,  as  if  in  triumph,  the  Virginia 
Boanerges  viewed  with  delight  the  thousands  of  eager 
black  faces,  and  thundered  out:  "  Whar  was  ye  born? 
Whar  was  ye  born?  Dis  text  of  mine  answers  the  im- 
portant question.  You'se  born  in  Zion."  A  chorus  of 
"  Amens  "  showed  the  preacher  that  he  was  on  the  right 
track,  and  he  thundered  out,  louder  than  ever :  "  Whar 
was  the  rest  born?  De  text,  my  bredren,  say,  Dey  was 
born  in  Zion." 


A  SUNDAY  IN  THE  WOODS  103 

Then  the  speaker  began  to  grow  eloquent.  He  took 
his  hearers  on  an  imaginary  trip  over  the  country.  **  Let 
us  all  go  down  this  mornin'  to  New  Orleans,  and, 
hoverin'  over  dat  great  and  wicked  city,  let  us  shout  down 
to  dem,  '  Whar's  ye  born  ? '  and  all  Gord's  chilren  shout 
back,  '  We'se  born  in  Zion.'  Den  let  us  go  to  Atlanta, 
and,  hoverin'  over  dat  great  city,  let  us  shout  down, 
'  Whar's  ye  born  ? '  and  dey  all  answer,  '  We'se  born  in 
Zion.'  " 

He  then  went  on  in  this  way,  "  hovering  "  over  the 
principal  cities  of  the  Southern  and  Northern  States,  and 
receiving  the  same  answer  from  them  all,  "  We'se  born 
in  Zion."  By  this  time  he  had  worked  himself  up  into  a 
tremendous  passion,  and  he  paced  up  and  down  in  wild 
enthusiasm.  The  audience  was  getting  thoroughly 
roused,  but  the  orator  wanted  them  to  be  brought  to  a 
yet  higher  fervor.  "  Let  us  go  to  the  North  Pole,"  he 
shouted,  "and,  twinin'  our  legs  around  it,  let  us  shout 
down  to  de  inhabitants  of  dem  frozen  region,  '  Whar's 
ye  born  ? '  and  the  answer  comes  back  from  de  frozen 
people, '  We'se  born  in  Zion.'  " 

This  was  too  much  for  Jefferson,  and  he  burst  out  in 
uncontrollable  laughter.  Nafti  sympathized  with  his 
white  companion,  but  he  was  fearful  lest  the  colored  peo- 
ple would  think  he  had  brought  a  scoffer  along  to  mock 
them.  This  was  an  empty  fear,  however,  for  by  this  time 
the  whole  congregation  was  under  the  spell  of  the  impas- 
sioned preacher,  and  shouts  of  "  Alleluia !  "  "  Amen !  " 
"  Praise  de  Lawd ! "  were  now  punctuating  the  sermon 
at  every  sentence.  After  a  long,  sustained  flight  of  more 
of  this  kind  of  pulpit  eloquence  the  Virginia  parson 
closed,  shouting  out :  "  We'se  born  in  Zion,  we'se  born  in 
Zion;  hallelujah,  we'se  born  in  Zion!  " 

The  vast  congregation  had  been  worked  up  to  a  kind  of 


104  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

religious  frenzy.  Their  bodies  were  moving  to  and  fro. 
Shouts  of  "  Praise  de  Lawd ! "  were  heard  on  every  side. 
Then  came  the  prayers,  which  were  offered  by  several  of 
the  worshipers.  This  was  a  part  of  the  service  that  also 
deeply  impressed  Jefferson.  These  prayers  were,  for  the 
most  part,  clothed  in  fantastic  language,  but  there  was  a 
deep  earnestness  in  some  of  them,  and  some  of  the  older 
men  seemed  to  the  lone  white  man  in  the  company  to 
wrestle  with  God,  as  Jacob  did  by  the  brook  Jabbok, 
in  their  pleadings  for  "  de  blessin'  o'  God." 

Jefferson  was  reminded  of  his  own  childhood  days,  and 
of  his  mother's  prayers.  For  a  little  while  he  forgot  his 
strange,  almost  weird,  surroundings,  and  he  found  him- 
self repeating  Florence  Percy's  touching  lines : 

"  Backward,  turn  backward,  O  Time,  in  your  flight, 
Make  me  a  child  again,  just  for  to-night  f 
Mother,  come  back  from  the  echoless  shore, 
Take  me  again  to  your  heart  as  of  yore; 
Kiss  from  my  forehead  the  furrows  of  care, 
Smooth  the  few  silver  threads  out  of  my  hair; 
Over  my  slumbers  your  loving  watch  keep  — 
Rock  me  to  sleep,  mother,  rock  me  to  sleep." 

He  was  aroused  at  last  by  Nafti  rising  from  his  side 
and  advancing  to  the  speaker's  stand.  Nafti  had  not 
mentioned  it  to  Jefferson,  but  he  had  been  asked  to  speak 
at  the  meeting  as  a  representative  of  Harbison  Institute, 
and  also  to  take  to  them  the  greetings  of  Tuskegee's 
president.  He  was  a  young  lad,  and  seemed  almost  a 
boy,  as  he  stood  up  to  speak,  but  Jefferson  could  see 
that  he  was  already  quite  a  person  among  his  own  race. 
"  Dat's  Nafti,  de  son  of  ole  Mose  Thomas,"  he  heard 
someone  say  to  his  neighbor.  Nafti  began  by  referring 
to  Booker  T.  Washington's  visit  to  Dothan  and  his  words 
of  encouragement  in  regard  to  the  progress  of  American 


A  SUNDAY  IN  THE  WOODS  105 

negroes.  "  It  is  not  enough  to  be  born  in  Zion,"  con- 
tinued the  lad,  in  a  way  that  would  have  done  great  credit 
to  a  much  older  man,  deftly  joining  his  remarks  to  the 
preceding  sermon.  "  We  must  learn  to  live  as  the  chil- 
dren of  Zion."  He  then  went  on  to  tell  of  Dr.  Wash- 
ington's visit  to  his  father's  house,  and  of  his  conversa- 
tion there.  "  Booker  T.  Washington  believes  in  work," 
he  explained,  speaking  with  great  earnestness,  and  with 
the  fervor  peculiar  to  his  race.  "  He  has  always  been  a 
great  worker  himself.  He  believes  in  meetings  like 
these,"  continued  Nafti,  looking  around  with  a  smile  on 
his  face,  "  and  he  often  addressed  them.  He  wished  he 
could  have  been  here  to-day,  but  it  was  impossible;  but 
he  told  me  to  tell  you  the  kind  of  a  negro  he  likes  best 
of  all.  Some  time  ago  he  met  an  old  colored  man,  and 
he  said  to  him,  'Uncle  Jake,  where  are  you  going?' 
'  I'se  gwine  to  camp  meeting.'  '  Are  you  able  to  go  to 
camp  meeting  and  spend  a  week  in  singing  and  shouting?  ' 
President  Washington  asked  him.  '  Yes/  said  Uncle 
Jake,  '  I  ain't  been  to  camp  meeting  fo'  eight  yeahs,  and 
I'se  gwine  this  yeah  fo'  suah.  Eight  yeahs  ago  Ah  went 
to  Tuskegee  and  Ah  heard  you  teach  de  people  to  send 
der  chillen  to  Sunday  school,  an'  build  churches,  an'  day 
schools,  an'  to  save  their  money  and  have  a  bank  ac- 
count, and  Ah  been  followin'  yo'  advice  fo'  eight  yeahs, 
and  Ah  got  fifty  acres  o'  land,  and  Ah  done  paid  the 
last  dollar  on  dat  land,  and  suah  I'se  de  right  to  go  to 
camp  meeting  dis  yeah.  I'se  done  saved  mah  money, 
ain't  spent  it  fo'  whisky  and  snuff  and  cheap  jewelry; 
I'se  a  nice  house  on  de  land,  fo'  rooms,  painted  inside 
and  outside,  and  Ah  done  paid  de  last  dollah  on  de 
house,  and  Ah  sure  got  de  right  to  go  to  camp  meeting 
this  yeah.  See  dis  wagon  ?  Dis  is  Jake's  wagon.  When 
Ah  first  got  free  Ah  bought  a  buggy,  and  Ah  soon  found 


106  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

a  man  got  to  ride  in  a  wagon  befo'  he  rides  in  a  buggy, 
and  Ah  done  sold  de  buggy  and  bought  dis  wagon,  and 
Ah  done  pay  fo'  de  wagon.  See  these  two  big,  black 
mules.  Dese  is  Jake's  mules,  and  Ah  ain't  got  no  debt, 
and  Ah's  got  a  right  to  go  to  camp  meeting.'  Then 
Uncle  Jake  pulled  a  cloth  from  a  large  basket  and  said, 
*  Do  you  see  that  co'n  bread  and  meat  ?  I'se  raised  de 
co'n  and  de  ole  woman  cooked  de  bread,  and  Ah  raised 
de  pig,  and  de  ole  woman  cook  de  meat,  and  we  is  all  gwine 
to  camp  meeting  and  have  a  great  big  time  and  shout  and 
sing,  for  we  got  money  in  our  pocket  and  we  got  religion 
in  our  heart.' " 

"  President  Washington  wanted  me  to  tell  you  all  that 
he  wanted  to  see  more  black  people  like  Uncle  Jake," 
concluded  Nafti.  There  was  not  so  much  religious 
fervor  at  the  close  of  his  talk,  but  Jefferson  was  pleased 
to  hear  the  large  number  of  "  Amens !  "  and  "  Praise  de 
Lawds ! "  from  all  parts  of  the  audience. 

When  the  time  for  the  picnic  lunch  came  Jefferson 
was  greatly  embarrassed.  He  had  not  thought  of  this 
dilemma,  but  there  was  no  escape  now.  Nafti  saw  his 
look  of  dismay,  and  offered  to  divide  his  basket,  so  that 
Jefferson  could  go  away  off  by  himself  to  eat.  After- 
ward he  regretted  that  he  did  not  follow  Nafti's  advice, 
but  he  contented  himself  that  day  by  going  to  a  lonely 
spot  in  the  woods,  in  company  with  the  Harbison  stu- 
dent, apart  from  the  crowd.  Nafti  spread  a  cloth  on 
the  ground,  and  soon  had  it  covered  with  chicken,  meat 
and  vegetables,  and  all  the  choice  food  that  tempts  a 
sharp  appetite,  such  as  Jefferson  Lilly  had  that  day. 
After  the  lunch  was  over  Dr.  Brown,  the  colored  minis- 
ter in  Dothan,  joined  them,  and  Jefferson  tried  to  throw 
off  a  guilty  sense  of  having  done  something  heinously 
sinful  in  eating  with  Nafti. 


A  SUNDAY  IN  THE  WOODS  107 

He  was  surprised  to  find  Dr.  Brown  a  well  educated 
and  cultured  man,  who  was  able  to  talk  in  a  most  en- 
lightening way  on  many  subjects.  He  was,  of  course, 
full  of  the  Booker  T.  Washington  speech,  and  he  soon 
showed  Jefferson  that  he  had  thought  deeply  on  the  race 
problem  himself.  "  Our  people,"  he  said  earnestly, 
"  have  a  contribution  to  make  to  the  life  of  this  great 
nation.  Just  as  Joseph  was  taken  to  Egypt  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  so  our  forefathers  were  brought  here  as 
slaves.  Men  meant  us  evil,  but  God  meant  us  good,  and 
meant  good  also  to  America." 

"  What  kind  of  a  contribution  do  you  think  your  race 
can  make  to  this  country  ?  "  asked  Jefferson. 

"  I  think  I  can  see  how  the  black  men  are  needed," 
he  rejoined.  "  The  whites  have  the  intellect,  we  all 
know ;  but  our  people  have  great  sympathy  and  good 
nature,  and  we  can  counteract  the  nervous  tension  of  the 
whites  in  this  warm  climate." 

This  was  an  entirely  new  idea  to  Jefferson,  but  he 
made  no  reply,  and  Dr.  Brown  continued :  "  We  negroes 
do  not  want  social  equality  with  the  whites.  We 
do  not  want  assimilation.  All  we  want  is  justice,  just 
as  the  Hon.  W.  H.  Fleming  said  last  Friday  night." 
In  the  afternoon  Dr.  Brown  preached  the  sermon,  which 
was  rather  short,  but  Jefferson  noticed  the  man's  logic, 
his  Scriptural  knowledge,  and  his  plain,  practical  com- 
mon sense.  He  sent  the  crowds  away  with  the  idea  that 
Christianity  was  a  life,  and  laid  emphasis  on  the  mes- 
sage of  Booker  T.  Washington.  The  discourse  by  Dr. 
Brown  helped  to  make  the  day  an  epoch  in  Jefferson's 
own  religious  life.  He  could  feel  that  his  soul  had  been 
warmed.  His  inherited  faith  in  God  and  in  the  Bible 
began  to  reassert  itself. 

"  I  think  if  I  were  to  attend  another  negro  camp  meet- 


108  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

ing,"  he  laughed  to  himself  that  night,  "  I  should  be- 
come as  ardent  a  Christian  as  Rose  Atkinson." 

A  short  time  later  he  was  glad  indeed  that  his  faith 
in  God  had  been  somewhat  revived. 


CHAPTER  XI 
legree's  revenge  begins 

Harbison's  triumph  seemed  at  first  to  be  complete. 
The  whole  community  was  stirred  to  new  life  by  the 
visit  of  the  brilliant  head  of  Tuskegee,  who  seemed,  at 
one  blow,  to  have  destroyed  Legreeism  in  Dothan.  The 
young  men  of  the  town  seemed  girt  with  fresh  strength, 
and  the  hunted  look  left  the  faces  of  the  older  people. 
The  negro  specter,  with  which  Legree  had  terrorized 
the  community  for  years,  was  seen  to  be  a  bogy  man, 
and  under  the  leadership  of  men  like  Donald  Shelby 
Dothan  seemed  about  to  enter  a  new  era  of  prosperity 
and  mutual  confidence  between  whites  and  blacks. 

But  Legree  had  not  yet  played  his  last  card.  He 
determined  to  wait  for  a  little  while,  until  the  first  effect 
of  the  speech  of  that  "  fool  nigger,  Booker  T.,"  as  he 
called  the  President  of  Tuskegee,  had  passed  away,  and 
he  was  confident  that  he  could  again  arouse  the  dying 
spirit  of  the  racial  hate.  Meanwhile,  his  minions  were 
instructed  to  let  nothing  escape  which  might  lead  to  dis- 
putes between  the  two  races. 

A  few  days  after  his  visit  to  the  camp  meeting  in 
the  woods  Jefferson  Lilly  found  out  that  his  appearance 
there  had  been  reported  in  Dothan,  and  all  kinds  of 
stories  were  being  passed  around.  He  heard  that  he 
had  "  joined  the  nigger  church."  He  had  "  turned  the 
heads  of  the  niggers,  telling  them  they  were  just  as  good 
as  the  whites."    Worst  of  all,  and  most  damning,  it  was 

109 


110  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

reported  as  being  undeniable  that  "  he  had  actually  eaten 
with  a  nigger."  No  one  who  is  unacquainted  with  modern 
conditions  in  Dothan  can  fully  understand  the  awful  na- 
ture of  the  last  charge.  It  is  enough  to  ruin  a  man  for 
life.  A  thief  may  win  his  way  back  into  society.  A 
woman  with  a  question  mark  after  her  reputation  may 
live  down  her  undesirable  past;  but  for  a  man  who  has 
eaten  with  a  negro  to  get  back  into  society  in  Dothan  was 
an  impossible  task.  When  Jefferson  Lilly  began  to  reflect 
on  his  Sunday  at  the  camp  meeting  he  decided  that  if 
Legree  retained  any  power  whatever  in  Dothan  his  own 
fortunes  were  in  imminent  danger.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  quieting  effect  of  Booker  T.  Washington's  visit 
Legree  could  have  run  him  ignominiously  out  of  town 
the  next  day,  but  the  crafty  Legree,  feeling  sure  that  he 
now  had  Jefferson  in  his  power,  waited  quietly  until  he 
could  use  the  camp-meeting  incident  more  effectively 
to  arouse  a  bitter  hatred  once  more  against  Harbison 
Institute,  and  the  black  race  in  general.  His  plans  were 
somewhat  upset  by  an  unexpected  incident. 

Rose  Atkinson  was  walking  downtown  one  day  alone. 
She  had  often  done  this  before,  and  she  had  no  fears 
whatever  of  insult  or  violence.  As  she  was  approaching 
a  street  corner  she  noticed  a  crowd  of  men  standing  in 
animated  conversation,  but  she  was  paying  no  attention 
to  them  whatever  until  she  heard  one  of  them  exclaim, 
with  an  oath,  "  That's  the  Yankee  teacher  that  is  trying 
to  make  this  a  nigger  town." 

The  girl  was  shocked  at  the  insulting  remark,  and, 
with  burning  cheek,  was  hurrying  past,  when  one  fellow, 
under  the  influence  of  liquor,  stepped  in  front  of  her, 
bawling  out,  "  So  you  want  a  nigger  husband,  do  you  ?  " 
Quick  as  a  flash  the  girl  lifted  her  closed  parasol  and 
struck  him  a  stinging  blow  across  the  face,  causing  him 


LEGREE'S  REVENGE  BEGINS  111 

to  reel  backward  in  sudden  retreat.  Some  of  the  others 
began  to  crowd  forward,  crying,  "  Nigger  teacher,  nigger 
teacher !  "  Rose  was  frightened.  The  rough  men  were 
surrounding  her,  and  insult,  and  even  violence,  seemed 
imminent. 

Suddenly  around  the  corner,  attracted  by  the  noise, 
came  Jefferson  Lilly.  He  had  a  heavy  walking  cane  in 
his  hand,  which  he  had  purchased  a  few  days  before  as 
a  protection  that  might  be  needed.  Recognizing  Rose, 
and  taking  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  he  dashed  into 
the  crowd  with  uplifted  cane  and  began  to  belabor  the 
startled  toughs  in  a  terrific  manner.  "  You  white  dogs !  " 
were  the  only  words  that  escaped  his  lips,  as  he  struck 
out  so  fiercely  and  furiously  that  the  whole  crowd  scat- 
tered like  a  school  of  minnows  when  a  huge  pike  darts 
into  their  midst.  In  a  moment  two  of  the  fellows  lay 
senseless  on  the  sidewalk  and  the  rest  were  in  full  re- 
treat. 

With  a  glad  cry  of  joy  Rose  ran  to  Jefferson's  side, 
and,  taking  his  arm,  they  walked  swiftly  away,  leaving 
a  fast  increasing  crowd  of  men  and  boys,  who  gaped  at 
them  in  wonder.  They  were  soon  out  of  reach,  and 
no  one  attempted  to  follow.  For  some  time  Rose  did 
not  speak.  At  length  she  found  her  voice  and  whis- 
pered, "  Thank  you  very  much,  Mr.  Lilly.  That  was  a 
new  experience  for  me,  and  it  almost  overcame  me. 
Who  were  those  dreadful,  drunken  fellows  ?  " 

"  They  are  some  of  Legree's  followers,"  answered 
Jefferson  with  a  dark  frown ;  "  but  I  confess  they  are 
lower  than  I  thought  them  to  be.  You  will  have  to  re- 
member after  this,  Miss  Atkinson,  that  it  is  unsafe  for 
you  to  walk  the  streets  of  Dothan  without  an  escort." 

By  this  time  Rose  had  regained  her  composure,  and 
she  began  to  realize  the  nature  of  the  attack.     "  I  suppose 


112  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

they  are  enraged,"  she  responded,  "  because  of  Booker 
T.  Washington's  successful  meeting." 

"  Yes,"  said  her  companion.  "  They  are  wild  with 
rage  because  they  see  you  are  winning  the  whites  over 
to  your  side.  These  low  dogs  make  a  living  out  of  race 
hatred,  and  since  you  are  beginning  to  interest  the  white 
people  in  Harbison  they  fear  that  the  color  prejudice  will 
die  out  in  Dothan,  and  that  their  day  of  power  will  be 
gone.     They  are  fighting  for  their  lives." 

"  I  certainly  did  not  think  such  an  outrage  was  possi- 
ble in  any  American  city,"  said  Rose,  her  indignation 
rising  as  she  saw  the  reason  for  the  insults  offered  her. 
"If  they  think  they  can  frighten  me  in  that  way  they 
are  greatly  mistaken.  The  blood  of  the  heroes  of  Bunker 
Hill  runs  in  my  veins,  and  I  see  in  such  vile  creatures 
worse  enemies  to  our  beloved  America  than  foreign  regi- 
ments or  warships." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  entrance  to  Harbi- 
son Institute,  and  just  as  they  were  shaking  hands  cor- 
dially in  parting,  and  Rose  was  expressing  her  warmest 
gratitude  to  her  protector,  Florence  Ashley  drove  past 
in  a  carriage.  The  haughty  Southern  girl  gazed  in 
blank  astonishment  at  the  scene.  The  color  left  her 
face,  and  when  Jefferson,  recognizing  her  as  the  car- 
riage came  opposite  them,  raised  his  hat  with  a  smile, 
she  bowed  coldly  to  him,  not  noticing  Rose  in  any  way, 
although  that  young  lady  also  bowed  and  smiled. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  Miss  Ashley  was  not  in  town  last 
Friday  evening,"  said  Rose.  "  I  wish  she  could  have 
heard  Dr.  Washington." 

Jefferson  was  a  little  dazed  by  the  coldness  of  Flor- 
ence's bow,  and  was  wondering  what  had  so  seriously 
offended  her.  He  never  imagined  that  the  warmth  of 
Rose's  parting  was  the  occasion,  but  mused  to  himself, 


LEGREE'S  REVENGE  BEGINS  113 

"  She  is  angry  to  see  me  in  the  vicinity  of  Harbison  In- 
stitute.    I  must  call  to-night  and  explain  things." 

"  Don't  you  think  that  Miss  Ashley  will  turn  against 
Legree's  policy  when  she  understands  the  whole  ques- 
tion better,"  Rose  continued,  not  comprehending  the 
cause  of  Jefferson's  sudden  silence  and  abstraction. 

"  Yes,  I  believe  so,"  he  answered  so  absent-mindedly 
that  Rose  looked  up  at  him  and  saw  his  look  of  anxiety 
as  his  eyes  followed  the  retreating  carriage. 

"  I  will  leave  her  to  you  to  make  a  speedy  convert 
out  of  her.  I  can  see  you  are  quite  an  admirer  of  Miss 
Ashley,"  and  Rose  laughed  gayly.  She  had  now  quite 
recovered  from  the  shock  of  the  sudden  onslaught  a  fewi 
minutes  before. 

Jefferson  Lilly  recovered  his  composure  and  answered, 
smilingly,  "  I  do  not  think  I  will  have  much  influence 
over  her  in  regard  to  Harbison.  I  understand  that  she 
has  never  recognized  in  a  social  way  any  of  the  teachers 
of  the  Institute,  but  I  feel  sure  that  your  acquaintance 
with  her,  Miss  Atkinson,  will  soon  win  her  over." 

"  She  has  treated  me  coldly  ever  since  she  knew  I  was 
teaching  here,"  said  Rose  with  a  little  laugh.  "  I  think 
she  would  ignore  me  altogether  were  it  not  for  Aunt 
Waynor." 

This  conversation  delayed  the  young  people  for  several 
minutes,  and  when  her  carriage  turned  a  corner,  three 
blocks  distant,  Florence  Ashley  glanced  back  and  saw 
them  still  engaged  in  eager  conversation,  although  they 
were  shaking  hands  in  farewell  when  she  had  passed  them. 

"  The  bold  thing ! "  she  said  to  herself.  "  She  is  the 
cause  of  all  this  talk  about  Jefferson  being  a  nigger's 
man.  I  might  have  known  that  a  Harbison  teacher 
would  act  that  way.  Why  don't  such  people  stay  where 
they  belong?  "    A  suspicion  of  a  tear  glistened  in  her  eye. 


114  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

The  more  Florence  Ashley  thought  of  the  scene  she 
had  witnessed  at  the  gateway  of  the  Harbison  Institute 
the  more  agitated  she  became.  When  she  arrived  at 
home  she  sought  at  once  the  seclusion  of  her  own  room 
and  sat  down  to  consider.  "  I  don't  care ! "  she  ex- 
claimed aloud,  bursting  into  tears.  "  Jefferson  had  no 
business  to  be  walking  out  there  with  her,  smiling  on 
her  and  holding  her  hand.  It  is  a  shame.  I  will  teach 
him  a  lesson."  She  dried  her  tears  and  sat  up  straight 
for  a  few  minutes.  "  I  don't  care  a  bit  for  him  anyway," 
she  continued  aloud.  "  I  just  hate  him.  Everybody  is  talk- 
ing about  him,  and  I  am  glad  I  have  found  him  out.  I 
won't  see  him  again,"  and  the  proud  daughter  of  Ala- 
bama arose  haughtily  and  washed  her  face.  But  her 
eyes  were  still  red  and  she  felt  miserable.  She  was  be- 
ginning to  learn  some  of  the  mysteries  of  the  soul,  which 
bewilder  us  at  first,  but  which  we  recognize  later  as  un- 
escapable  laws  of  nature. 

That  evening,  at  the  supper  table,  Mr.  Ashley  told  of 
the  great  excitement  in  town  over  Jefferson  Lilly.  "  He 
has  become  the  talk  of  the  town,"  he  said.  "  It  seems 
he  is  an  ardent  defender  of  negro  rights,  and  all  the 
friends  of  Legree  are  tremendously  wrought  up  over 
him.  Some  say  that  he  eats  with  negroes  right  along,  and 
others  say  he  has  joined  a  negro  church.  I  heard  he  was 
talking  of  marrying  a  negress,  but  I  hardly  believe  any- 
thing like  that." 

Florence  was  an  interested  listener,  but  did  not  trust 
herself  to  say  anything. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  said  Mrs.  Ashley  with  a  sigh,  "  that 
Rose  Atkinson  will  only  make  matters  worse  here  for  the 
colored  people.  I  hear  that  Booker  T.'s  visit  has  greatly 
angered  Legree  and  many  others." 

"  That  may  be,"  rejoined  Mr.  Ashley,  "  but  I  have 


LEGREE'S  REVENGE  BEGINS  115 

heard  a  great  many  say  that  Booker  Washington  had  the 
right  idea  about  the  negro,  after  all.  It  is  different  now 
from  the  days  of  slavery.  Then  an  ignorant  negro  was 
a  safe  negro.     It  is  not  so  to-day." 

"  Do  you  think  we  will  ever  endure  social  equality 
with  niggers  ?  "  said  Florence  in  disgust. 

Her  father  laughed  at  the  expression  of  horror  on 
her  face  and  answered,  "  Don't  be  afraid,  Florence. 
Social  equality  is' not  even  dreamed  of.  It  is  one  of 
Legree's  nightmares.  I  have  heard  that  Washington 
spoke  expressly  on  the  subject  at  his  meeting  here  and 
called  the  agitation  of  the  whole  question  of  social  eqal- 
ity  '  the  extreme  of  folly.'  " 

"  I  am  sorry  young  Mr.  Lilly  has  gotten  into  trouble 
over  such  a  vulgar  matter  as  the  rights  of  negroes.  He 
seemed  such  a  nice  young  man,"  interposed  Mrs.  Ashley. 
"  Do  you  know  anything  about  it,  Florence  ?  " 

The  mother's  quick  eyes  had  detected  that  something 
was  amiss  with  her  fair  daughter  and  she  surmised  that 
[Jefferson  Lilly  had  something  to  do  with  it. 

"  No,  I  know  nothing  about  him,"  Florence  answered 
shortly.     "  He  and  I  are  no  longer  friends." 

"  If  the  young  man  remains  much  longer  in  Dothan 
he  is  sure  to  get  some  rough  treatment,"  said  Mr.  Ash- 
ley. "  This  race  prejudice  regards  neither  the  laws  of 
God  nor  man,  and  Mr.  Lilly  has  aroused  the  Legree  fac- 
tion to  extreme  bitterness." 

The  conversation  changed  to  more  congenial  topics 
and  Jefferson  Lilly  was  soon  dismissed  from  their  minds. 
Ah,  not  entirely  dismissed!  Deep  down  in  her  heart 
Florence  thought  of  nothing  else.  She  wanted  to  see 
him,  to  warn  him,  to  save  him.  But  the  remembrance  of 
his  smile  as  he  shook  hands  with  Rose  Atkinson  at  the 
Harbison  gate  came  back  again  to  her  mind,  and  she 


116  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

crushed  back,  as  best  she  could,  all  sympathy  for  the 
young  man. 

Much  to  her  secret  pleasure  Jefferson  called  on  her 
that  evening,  but  she  refused  to  see  him,  sending  down 
a  curt  answer  that  she  was  engaged  for  that  evening. 
This  cold  treatment  of  hers  was  the  last  drop  in  Jeffer- 
son's cup  of  bitterness.  "  I  have  become  a  Pariah  in 
Dothan,"  he  said  aloud,  as  he  walked  down  the  street. 
"  Florence  knows  I  am  a  marked  man  here  and  she  too 
has  spurned  me  as  a  leper." 

Jefferson  Lilly  was  getting  confused.  T^ie  constant 
insults  to  which,  in  one  way  or  another,  he  was  ex- 
posed; his  real  danger  from  the  conscienceless  minions 
of  Legree,  and  now  this  sudden  desertion  by  Florence 
Ashley,  whose  smile  had  first  aroused  in  him  his  new, 
manhood  and  spirit,  which  were  the  real  cause  of  all  his 
difficulties  —  all  combined  to  overwhelm  him.  Had  he 
been  a  less  dauntless  soul  he  would  have  given  up  the 
struggle  at  once  and  left  Dothan,  but  there  flowed  in  his 
veins  the  blood  of  the  old  Covenanter  stock  of  Scotland. 
His  forefathers  had  suffered,  bled  and  died  for  princi- 
ple, and  he  had  inherited  a  full  measure  of  their  per- 
sistency. He  was  not  sustained,  at  this  time,  by  the 
lofty  faith  in  God,  which  had  upheld  his  forefathers  in 
their  cruel  martyrdoms,  but  he  had  a  keen  sense  of  jus- 
tice, and  he  felt  in  his  soul  that  he  had  committed  no 
wrong,  and  doggedly  determined  to  remain  in  Dothan  and 
face  the  conflict  to  the  bitter  end. 

Things  were  getting  serious.  That  night  at  his  hotel  he 
was  told  that  his  room  had  been  changed.  He  demanded 
to  know  the  reason,  but  the  bellboy  replied  that  he  did 
not  know,  and  conducted  him  to  a  back  room,  evidently 
a  servant's  room,  without  key  or  fastening  on  the  door, 
and  with  no  carpet  or  much  furnishings. 


LEGREE'S  REVENGE  BEGINS  117 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?  "  he  demanded  again  of  the 
bellboy,  when  he  saw  the  wretched  place  assigned  him; 
but  the  lad,  terrified  by  Jefferson's  anger,  quickly  dis- 
appeared down  the  hallway.  Jefferson  went  downstairs 
to  the  hotel  office. 

"  Who  ordered  my  room  to  be  changed  ? "  he  asked, 
his  eyes  glistening  like  a  basilisk's. 

"  I  don't  know,  sir,"  answered  the  clerk  in  some  trepi- 
dation.    "  I  am  the  night  clerk." 

"  Give  me  a  decent  room !  "  he  shouted. 

"  I'm  sorry,  sir,"  said  the  clerk,  becoming  somewhat 
alarmed.  "  We  are  all  full.  You  will  have  to  go  to 
another  hotel." 

It  was  getting  late,  and  Jefferson  began  to  fear  that 
the  other  hotels  would  also  be  barred  against  him.  He 
decided  to  wait  until  morning  before  making  any  new 
move,  so  that  he  could  consult  with  Donald  Shelby.  Go- 
ing again  to  the  back  room  that  was  assigned  him  he 
looked  around  in  disgust.  Always  accustomed  to  the 
very  best  hotel  accommodations,  the  filthy  room  was 
intolerable.  Two  or  three  times  he  thought  he  would 
leave,  but  it  was  now  so  late  at  night  that  he  finally  lay 
down,  without  undressing,  on  the  rough  bed.  It  was  a 
warm  night,  and  he  could  not  sleep.  His  brain  seemed 
on  fire.  Utterly  unused  to  facing  such  rough  treatment, 
he  could  not  accustom  himself  to  his  strange  and  trying 
environments. 

"  It  is  all  a  horrible  nightmare,"  he  thought.  "  I 
shall  awake  and  find  that  I  have  been  dreaming." 

But  Jefferson  Lilly  had  only  begun  to  feel  the  tortures 
that  race  hatred  can  inspire.  Some  may  not  think  the 
next  experience  of  his  credible,  but  that  is  because  they 
have  never  lived  in  a  town  where  a  Legree  was  master. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE    FEARFUL    PENALTY 

Too  excited  to  eat  any  breakfast,  Jefferson  Lilly,  after 
a  sleepless  night,  hastened  in  the  morning  to  find  his 
friend,  Donald  Shelby,  that  he  might  consult  with  him. 
A  new  misfortune  awaited  him.  He  learned,  with  dis- 
may, that  Donald  Shelby  had  been  summoned  to  New 
York  on  important  legal  business  the  evening  before, 
and  that  he  had  left  on  the  Night  Express.  At  an  utter 
loss  what  course  to  pursue,  he  was  returning  slowly  to 
his  hotel,  when  a  man  accosted  him  and  said  quietly: 
"  Sir,  I  want  to  warn  you  as  a  friend.  Leave  Dothan 
at  once  or  you  will  be  shot  for  joining  a  nigger  church 
and  for  eating  with  niggers." 

The  man  passed  on,  leaving  Jefferson's  mind  in  a 
wilder  tumult  than  ever.  A  little  later  the  policeman 
who  had  met  him  the  night  he  had  wounded  one  of  the 
toughs  who  attacked  him  came  up  and,  eying  him  ma- 
liciously, said :  "  You  must  leave  town  immediately  as 
the  people  want  none  like  you  here,  and  I  want  no  trou- 
ble in  the  streets." 

"  I  am  making  no  trouble,"  replied  Jefferson  with 
spirit  "  I  will  leave  Dothan  when  I  get  ready  and  not 
before." 

"  We'll  see  about  that,"  said  the  policeman  with  an 
oath,  as  he  crossed  the  street. 

Jefferson  had  walked  on  about  half  a  block  when  sud- 
denly a  stone  whizzed  past  his  head.     He  turned  hastily 

118 


THE  FEARFUL  PENALTY  119 

and  saw  a  crowd  gathering  behind  him,  everyone  looking 
daggers  at  him.  It  would  have  been  madness  to  have 
offered  resistance,  and  he  determined  to  invoke  the  aid 
of  the  authorities  of  the  city.  He  started  to  walk  rapidly 
in  the  direction  of  the  City  Hall.  The  mob,  increasing 
every  moment,  was  at  his  heels,  like  a  pack  of  hungry 
wolves.  Cries  of  "  Lynch  the  white  nigger ! "  "  Shoot 
him  down ! "  began  to  rise  in  hoarse  shouts  from  the 
many-footed  monster  whose  bestial  rage  Jefferson  Lilly 
had  stirred.  Just  then  Jefferson  did  something  which  he 
always  afterward  regretted,  but  it  was  not  an  unnatural 
thing  to  do.  His  sleepless  night,  his  constant  agitation 
for  many  hours,  his  defenseless  condition  —  without  gun 
or  even  a  cane  —  the  increasing  excitement  of  the  mob, 
all  combined  to  produce  a  panic  in  his  soul.  He  started 
to  run.  The  mob's  shouts  became  louder  and  fiercer,  and 
they  pursued  him  at  full  speed.  The  devil  was  now  un- 
chained. His  life  was  in  imminent  danger.  No  fierce 
tiger  in  African  jungle  ever  thirsted  for  the  blood  of  its 
hunted  prey  as  did  that  Dothan  mob  for  Jefferson's  neck. 
"  Hang  him !  "  "  Hang  him !  "  "  Get  a  rope !  "  The 
hoarse  shouts  rose  as  from  the  throat  of  a  monster  savage 
beast. 

Jefferson  redoubled  his  speed.  He  tore  off  his  coat 
and  hat  and  flung  them  in  the  street,  delaying  for  an  in- 
stant the  oncoming  mob,  as  they  grasped  the  cast-off 
clothing  of  their  victim  in  hellish  glee.  It  is  told  of  a 
company  of  travelers,  on  the  snowy  steppes  of  Russia, 
that  their  lives  were  saved,  when  pursued  by  a  hungry 
pack  of  wolves,  by  some  of  their  robes  falling  from  the 
sleigh,  which  diverted  the  attention  of  the  brutes  long 
enough  for  the  hunted  party  to  reach  a  place  of  safety. 
Thus  it  was  with  Jefferson  Lilly  on  that  fateful  morning. 
He  had  gained  now  on  the  mob  almost  a  block,  and  he 


120  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

saw  the  City  Hall  rise  before  him.  Never  did  a  storm- 
tossed  sailor,  after  a  voyage  in  which  all  hope  of  seeing 
the  shore  had  died,  enter  a  haven  with  a  greater  sense  of 
relief  than  did  the  hunted  Jefferson  enter  the  City  Hall 
of  Dothan,  believing  that  now  he  had  escaped  the  cruel 
teeth  of  lawless  savagery.  He  rushed  up  the  stairs,  and 
into  the  Mayor's  office. 

"  I  claim  the  protection  of  the  law ! "  he  shouted  to  an 
official  there.  Two  policemen  rushed  from  a  side  room, 
and  each  caught  one  of  his  arms.  "  Where  is  the 
Mayor?"  cried  Jefferson.  "I  want  to  see  him."  He 
was  highly  excited,  and  at  first  they  believed  that  he  was 
really  crazy.  Without  hat  or  coat,  his  face  perspiring 
and  his  hair  disheveled,  his  eyes  staring  widely,  the  young 
man  was  in  a  sorry  plight.  Thinking  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  quiet  him,  the  official,  who  was  one  of  the  clerks, 
said :    "lam  the  Mayor.     What  can  I  do  for  you?  " 

Jefferson  had  met  the  Mayor,  but  thinking  the  clerk 
was  in  charge  that  morning  he  gasped  out :  "  I  have  un- 
wittingly irritated  some  of  the  citizens  of  Dothan  and 
they  have  threatened  to  kill  me.  I  wish  protection.  I 
have  just  escaped  a  mob  that  was  seeking  my  life."  "  Sit 
down  here ;  we  will  protect  you,"  said  the  clerk,  and  two 
policemen  led  the  excited  young  man  to  a  chair. 

When  the  mob  saw  their  prey  enter  the  City  Hall  they 
knew  they  had  been  balked,  and  without  attempting  to 
follow  Jefferson  farther  they  dispersed  at  once ;  so  that 
when  a  policeman  went  down  to  investigate  the  street 
was  almost  deserted.  A  little  later  they  handcuffed  Jef- 
ferson, in  spite  of  his  fiery  protests,  and  took  him  to  a 
room  where  he  was  kept  for  two  hours.  By  this  time 
the  Mayor  arrived.  He  was  a  big,  lazy  looking  man,  a 
mere  tool  of  Legree's,  who  was  evidently  well  acquainted 
with  what  had  happened.     He  was  in  complete  sympathy 


THE  FEARFUL  PENALTY  121 

with  Legree's  plans  to  arouse  anew  the  spirit  of  racial 
hate  and  enmity,  and  he  well  knew  the  meaning  of  the 
mob's  action  that  morning.  A  policeman  was  dispatched 
to  bring  Jefferson  into  the  Mayor's  Court. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir,  disturbing  the  peace  of  the 
city  ? "  asked  the  Mayor  menacingly,  when  the  young 
man  was  brought  into  his  presence.  "  Did  I  not  tell  you 
to  leave  Dothan  some  days  ago  ?  "  The  two  hours  of 
solitary  confinement,  with  his  hands  in  shackles,  had 
aroused  Jefferson's  anger  to  its  highest  pitch.  Looking 
the  Mayor  straight  in  the  face  he  demanded,  "  Take  off 
these  handcuffs !  I  am  a  free  American  citizen !  "  The 
Mayor  stared  at  him  and  sneered,  "  You'll  go  out  of  town 
when  we  set  you  loose  again."  "  Take  off  these  hand- 
cuffs ! "  again  demanded  Jefferson,  his  excitement  in- 
creasing, as  he  realized  his  helpless  condition  and  gross 
injustice  to  which  he  was  subjected.  Just  then  he  heard 
a  man  enter  the  room  and  exclaim  with  an  oath :  "  It's 
the  white  nigger  again !    We  have  got  him  this  time !  " 

Jefferson  turned  and  saw  Legree  standing  in  the  door- 
way, a  look  of  contempt  on  his  face.  This  was  too  much 
for  the  spirit  of  Jefferson  Lilly  to  endure.  He  raised  his 
handcuffed  fists,  so  that  they  made  a  kind  of  battering 
ram,  and  before  anyone  suspected  his  object  he  rushed  at 
Legree,  striking  him  a  terrific  blow  and  sending  him 
sprawling  out  in  the  hallway.  Two  policemen  rushed  on 
the  manacled  prisoner  and  soon  clubbed  him  into  submis- 
sion. 

"  Take  him  to  jail !  "  shouted  the  Mayor,  and  they  led 
the  young  fellow  down  to  a  room  on  the  lower  floor, 
which  was  used  as  a  police  cell.  This  room,  instead  of 
a  door,  had  an  iron  grate  opening  into  a  passageway,  which 
was  open  to  the  public.  There  was  no  furniture  in  the 
room  of  any  kind.     A  filthy  quilt  lay  in  the  corner,  and 


122  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

was  meant  to  answer  for  a  bed.  The  floor  was  covered 
with  expectoration  and  filth,  making  a  smell  that  was  un- 
bearable. No  sooner  was  Jefferson  confined  in  this  filthy 
cell  than  the  open  passageway  was  filled  with  the  mem- 
bers of  the  mob,  who  were  idle  loafers  around  town,  both 
men  and  boys.  They  began  to  jeer  at  the  prisoner 
through  the  bars  of  the  gate.  Jefferson,  dazed  and 
stunned,  sat  upon  the  floor  and  gazed  vacantly  at  his  tor- 
mentors. They  asked  him  all  manner  of  questions: 
"  Who  was  he  ?  "  "  What  was  his  name  ?  "  "  Where  he 
came  from  ?  "  "  Why  he  wanted  a  nigger  woman  for 
a  wife?  "  "  How  he  would  enjoy  working  on  the  streets 
with  the  niggers  ?  "  All  the  forenoon  and  all  the  after- 
noon this  constant  torment  was  kept  up ;  when  some  were 
tired  out  others  took  their  places.  Jefferson  paid  no  at- 
tention to  them,  answering  nothing.  He  recalled  the 
scene  in  "  The  Pilgrim's  Progress,"  which  he  had  read  as 
a  boy,  where  John  Bunyan  described  Christian  and  Faith- 
ful as  prisoners  in  a  cage  at  Vanity  Fair  in  these  words : 
"  They  took  them  and  beat  them  and  besmeared  them 
with  dirt,  and  then  put  them  into  a  cage,  that  they  might 
be  made  a  spectacle  to  all  the  men  of  the  Fair.  There, 
therefore,  they  lay  for  some  time,  and  were  made  objects 
of  any  man's  sport,  or  malice,  or  revenge."  "  I  am 
Dothan's  spectacle  to-day,"  said  the  unfortunate  Jeffer- 
son to  himself  bitterly. 

During  that  awful  day  the  only  food  he  had  to  eat  was 
a  coarse  sandwich.  Toward  evening  he  felt  his  physical 
nature  begin  to  give  way;  a  fever  began  to  flush  his 
cheeks,  and  to  give  his  eyes  a  glassy  stare.  That  night 
he  could  not  sleep.  The  filthy  surroundings,  the  memory 
of  his  insults,  his  hunger  and  his  deep  remorse  that  he 
had  run  so  ignominiously  from  the  mob,  all  combined  to 
set  his  brain  on  fire.     In  the  morning  he  felt  he  was  on 


THE  FEARFUL  PENALTY  123 

the  verge  of  physical  collapse.  He  had  not  slept  for 
forty-eight  hours.  The  morning  wore  on,  and  at  last  he 
began  to  shout  loudly  for  assistance.  A  policeman  came, 
handcuffed  his  hands  behind  his  back  and  led  him  up 
again  to  the  Mayor's  office.  He  was  still  coatless,  his 
face  unwashed  and  his  hair  unkempt. 

"  Let  me  go  free ! "  he  again  demanded  of  the  Mayor. 
"  I  have  broken  no  law.  My  arrest  and  detention  are 
illegal."  As  a  matter  of  fact  there  was  no  warrant  of  any 
kind  for  his  arrest  and  no  charge  had  been  preferred ;  but 
these  facts  mattered  little  in  Legree's  Dothan. 

The  day  was  intensely  hot,  and  the  treatment  the  young 
man  had  received  was  beginning  to  tell.  He  was  given  a 
drink  of  water,  which  tasted  peculiar,  as  he  thought,  and 
after  drinking  it  his  fever  kept  increasing.  In  a  little 
while  he  became  delirious,  and  he  commenced  struggling 
with  his  handcuffs.  The  Mayor  and  two  or  three  other 
officials  began  filling  out  a  blank  form,  which  declared 
that  Jefferson  Lilly  had  been  arrested  as  a  lunatic,  and 
he  was  to  be  committed  to  Tuscaloosa  Asylum.  In  a 
dazed  and  semi-conscious  condition  he  was  led  away  and 
put  in  a  large,  common  room  of  the  jail.  Here  the  sights 
and  smells  were  hideous.  The  low-browed  and  foul- 
mouthed  criminals  in  the  jail  crowded  around  the  new 
prisoner  like  mocking  fiends.  The  delirium  of  the  young 
man  became  worse,  and  that  evening  a  policeman  took 
him  in  charge  and  led  him  to  the  depot,  where  he  was 
taken  on  board  of  a  train  for  Tuscaloosa.  A  howling, 
angry  mob  was  at  the  station,  and  was  scarcely  re- 
strained from  doing  violence  to  the  now  completely  help- 
less man.  He  reached  the  institution  in  Tuscaloosa  the 
next  day  in  a  state  of  complete  physical  collapse.  For 
three  whole  days  he  had  eaten  practically  nothing,  and 
for  three  nights  he  had  not  slept.     Kindly  nature  came 


124  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

to  his  relief,  and  in  the  stupor  of  a  brain  fever  he  was 
carried  into  the  hospital  ward  at  the  asylum.  Kind  doc- 
tors and  tender-hearted  nurses  took  him  in  charge,  and 
he  was  gently  undressed  and  put  in  bed,  although  he  was 
completely  oblivious  now  to  all  ministrations,  good  or 
bad.  When  the  deputy  who  had  taken  Jefferson  to  the 
asylum  returned  to  Dothan  he  reported  the  success  of  his 
mission  to  Legree. 

"  We'll  soon  get  Dothan  back  to  where  it  was,"  said 
Legree  with  a  coarse  laugh.  "  That  white  nigger,  Lilly, 
is  now  out  of  the  way  for  good,  and  we'll  stir  things  up 
so  that  the  niggers  will  be  scared  to  death  in  this  town 
unless  they  stay  where  a  nigger  belongs."  He  winked 
knowingly  to  his  henchman,  adding,  "  Booker  T.  doesn't 
cut  any  ice  with  Legree." 

On  the  evening  that  Jefferson  Lilly  was  taken  out  of 
Dothan  to  the  Tuscaloosa  Asylum  Rev.  John  Durham, 
of  Hambright,  a  brother  of  Rev.  William  Durham,  pas- 
tor of  Calvary  Church,  arrived  in  the  Alabama  town 
from  his  home  in  North  Carolina  for  a  visit  to  his; 
younger  brother. 

Peter  Legree  heard  of  his  coming  from  someone  who 
saw  him  get  off  the  train,  and  he  called  that  evening  at  the 
parsonage.  Rev.  William  Durham  was  out,  calling  on  a 
sick  parishioner,  so  that  Legree  and  the  North  Carolina 
minister  of  the  Gospel  had  a  pleasant  meeting  by  them- 
selves. After  the  first  greetings  were  over  —  for  the  two 
were  old  friends  —  the  preacher  asked  the  "  Boss  "  how 
everything  was  getting  along  in  Dothan. 

"  Bad,  very  bad,"  answered  Legree  with  a  scowl.  "  I 
am  very  glad  you  have  come  at  this  time,  for  we  need 
your  help." 

"What's  wrong  now?  William  has  not  written  me 
anything." 


THE  FEARFUL  PENALTY  125 

"  That's  the  worst  of  it,"  replied  Legree.  "  Your 
brother,  I  am  afraid,  is  being  carried  away  with  this  nig- 
ger education  nonsense.  Booker  T.  has  been  here  and 
turned  this  town  upside  down.  That  nigger  school, 
Harbison,  is  trying  to  make  this  a  regular  nigger  town." 

"  I  am  astonished  to  hear  you  say  so,"  replied  the 
preacher.  "  I  always  thought  that  Dothan  was  one  town 
where  the  white  people  had  some  sense,  although  I  never 
could  see  why  you  allowed  that  Harbison  Institution  here 
at  all.  I  am  glad  you  have  told  me.  I  am  to  preach  for 
my  brother  to-morrow,  and  I  will  wake  up  these  people." 

"  Good ! "  said  Legree,  rubbing  his  hands  in  glee. 
"  That  is  just  what  we  need.  There  is  a  Yankee  teacher 
here.  Miss  Atkinson  is  her  name,  and  I  think  she  is  to 
blame  for  a  good  deal  of  our  trouble.  She  brought 
Booker  T.  here.  She  is  a  relative  of  the  Waynors  or  I 
would  soon  make  it  too  hot  for  her  in  this  place." 

"  Rose  Atkinson ! "  exclaimed  the  other  in  astonish- 
ment. "  A  foolish  young  woman  from  Pittsburg.  I 
have  met  her.  She  is  worse  than  a  plague.  I  never  met 
a  woman  with  less  sense  than  she  has,"  and  the  North 
Carolina  minister  of  Christ  waxed  wroth  at  the  memory 
of  his  last  interview  with  the  undaunted  Rose.  She  had 
quoted  Scripture  to  him,  and  called  him  a  minister  of 
Herod  and  a  traitor  to  Christ,  and  the  old  man  never 
forgave  her.  The  full  result  of  this  conference  between 
Peter  Legree  and  Rev.  John  Durham,  of  Hambright,  N. 
C,  was  plainly  seen  on  Sunday  morning,  when  the  visiting 
preacher  occupied  his  brother's  pulpit. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

REV.  JOHN  DURHAM,  OF  HAMBRIGHT 

It  was  on  a  Saturday  evening  that  Jefferson  Lilly,  after 
undergoing  the  torments  of  an  inquisition,  was  taken 
to  Tuscaloosa  Asylum.  The  next  day  was  a  beautiful, 
quiet  Sabbath.  A  cool  breeze,  blowing  from  the  south, 
made  the  air  delightful,  and  a  large  congregation  gath- 
ered in  the  Calvary  Church.  Only  a  few  of  the  mem- 
bers knew  of  the  presence  of  the  pastor's  brother,  so  that 
the  majority  of  the  congregation  was  surprised  to  see  him 
in  the  pulpit.  He  had  often  visited  Dothan  before,  and  he, 
was  accustomed  to  preach  on  these  occasions,  and  he 
never  failed,  in  any  of  his  sermons,  to  vent  his  wrath 
on  "  negro  coddlers,"  as  he  contemptuously  called  all 
friends  of  the  black  race  who  sought  to  assist  them 
through  a  system  of  education.  Prominent  among  the 
worshipers  that  morning,  with  a  pleased  look  on  his  hard, 
selfish  countenance,  sat  Peter  Legree.  Rose  Atkinson 
was  in  the  Waynor  pew,  for  she  continued  to  attend  the 
Calvary  Church,  and  she  was  making  many  pleasant 
friendships  among  its  members.  A  troubled  look  came 
to  her  face  as  she  recognized  the  Hambright  minister, 
with  whom  she  had  a  regular  battle  during  a  visit  she 
had  made  to  the  little  North  Carolina  village,  where  his 
small  church  was. 

Florence  Ashley  was  in  the  choir,  her  face  pale  as 
•death,  and  a  look  of  anxiety  on  her  countenance,  which 
the  quick  eye  of  Rose  at  once  detected. 

126 


REV.  JOHN  DURHAM,  OF  HAMBR1GHT      127 

"  She  is  worrying  over  Jefferson  Lilly,"  said  Rose  to 
herself.  "  Poor  fellow !  I  wonder  what  they  have  done 
to  him.  I  wonder  if  he  really  lost  his  head.  I  am  sure 
it  was  a  wicked  conspiracy,"  and  there  came  a  tender- 
ness toward  the  unfortunate  victim  of  Legreeism  into  the: 
heart  of  the  fair  Rose  that  made  her  eyes  grow  dim.  She 
had  heard  distorted  reports  of  Jefferson's  plight  the  day 
before  and  knew  that  he  had  been  taken  out  of  town.  She 
suspected  the  real  truth,  but  felt  that  at  present  she  could 
do  nothing  but  pray. 

The  service  began  with  the  customary  organ  voluntary 
and  the  opening  exercises.  These  were  in  charge  of  the 
pastor  of  the  church,  who  then  introduced  Rev.  John  Dur- 
ham of  Hambright,  as  "  an  old  friend  of  the  congrega- 
tion, who  would  preach  to  them  the  Gospel  of  Christ." 

Rev.  John  Durham  stood  up  and  looked  around.  He 
saw  many  familiar  faces  in  the  congregation,  but  he  noted 
two  especially,  Peter  Legree  and  Rose  Atkinson.  On  the 
former  he  beamed  with  pleasure,  while  a  dark  frown 
made  his  sour-looking  face  more  bitter  as  he  recognized 
the  teacher  from  Harbison.  He  knew,  of  course,  from 
Legree's  conversation  that  she  was  in  Dothan,  but  he 
did  not  expect  to  see  her  at  church.  "  If  I  were  the  pas- 
tor here,"  he  thought,  "  I  would  soon  drive  her  from  my 
congregation." 

John  Durham  was  an  old  man,  but  his  face  had  none  of 
the  kindly  sympathy  and  genial  goodness  which  the  ripe 
Christian  exhibits  to  the  world.  A  perpetual  scowl  dark- 
ened his  countenance.  The  lines  about  his  mouth  turned 
downward  with  a  sharp  curve.  He  looked,  as  Rose  At- 
kinson had  once  described  him,  a  bitter,  disappointed,  old 
infidel.  With  a  sanctimonious  roll  of  his  eyes  and  sol- 
emn tone  of  voice  he  began  his  sermon  by  repeating  a 
part  of  the  sixteenth  Psalm :    "  Preserve  me,  O  God,  for 


128  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

in  thee  do  I  put  my  trust.  Their  sorrows  shall  be  multi- 
plied that  hasten  after  another  god ;  their  drink-offerings 
of  blood  will  I  not  offer,  nor  take  up  their  names  into  my 
lips.  The  Lord  is  the  portion  of  mine  inheritance  and  of 
my  cup.  Thou  maintainest  my  lot."  Here  he  paused 
and  repeated  again  solemnly,  "  Thou  maintainest  my  lot." 
"  God  has  preserved  us  so  far,"  he  exclaimed,  walking 
from  behind  the  pulpit,  while  the  sanctimonious  look  left 
his  eyes  and  his  voice  became  natural.  "  God  helps  those 
who  help  themselves,"  he  almost  shouted.  "  We  cannot 
expect  God  to  maintain  our  lot  while  we  lie  supinely  on 
our  backs  and  see  a  black  wave  rush  over  the  fair  civili- 
zation of  the  Southland  without  making  a  protest. 
Awake!  arouse!  my  fellow-citizens." 

The  old  man  was  plainly  excited.  Legree's  face  lit  up 
with  pleasure,  but  the  greater  part  of  the  congregation 
began  to  move  uneasily.  Rose  Atkinson  could  see  that 
Rev.  William  Durham  was  looking  at  his  brother  anx- 
iously. 

"  I  have  heard  that  Booker  T.  Washington  was  in 
Dothan  recently,"  he  shouted,  louder  than  ever,  "  and 
that  some  of  you  have  been  carried  away  with  the  mad 
folly  he  represents.  I  mean  negro  education.  It  is  a 
farce,  a  delusion,  a  horrible  and  fatal  mistake." 

Rose  Atkinson  sat  up  straight  in  her  seat,  her  cheeks 
tingling  and  her  eyes  shining.  The  Waynors  frowned. 
Deacon  Leavitt  gazed  appealingly  in  the  direction  of  his 
pastor,  but  Rev.  William  Durham  was  staring  at  his 
brother  m  helpless  astonishment. 

"  The  negro  has  already  cost  us  many  billions  of  dol- 
lars. He  brought  on  us  a  war  that  cost  the  lives  of  half 
a  million  white  men.  He  has  corrupted  our  social  and 
political  life,  and  he  threatens  the  future  of  our  land  with 
bloodshed  and  ruin." 


REV.  JOHN  DURHAM,  OF  HAMBR1GHT       129 

At  this  outburst  a  number  of  the  young  men  in  the  rear 
seats  began  to  smile.  "  An  old-time  ranter,"  one  of  them 
whispered. 

"  Booker  T.  may  tell  of  lifting  up  the  negroes  by  indus- 
trial education,"  he  continued,  "  but  the  South  will  yet 
find,  to  its  horror,  that  this  black  Booker  has  been  a  false 
prophet.  The  Ethiopian  cannot  change  his  skin,  nor  the 
leopard  his  spots.  Education  is  useless,  and  worse  than 
useless.  Can  you  make  the  negro's  skin  white  by  educa- 
tion ?  Can  you  take  the  kink  from  his  hair  or  the  bulge 
from  his  lips  ?  I  tell  you  the  black  man  is  not  a  man  as 
we  are.  He  is  the  human  donkey.  You  cannot  make 
him  a  horse,  or  treat  him  as  a  horse.  This  race  preju- 
dice, of  which  the  world  ignorantly  accuses  us,  is  God's 
eternal  law  working  itself  out  It  is  our  instinct  of 
preservation.  Mate  a  donkey  and  a  horse  and  both  are 
gone.     Nothing  remains  but  a  sterile  mule." 

A  look  of  disgust  came  over  the  faces  of  the  audi- 
ence at  this  uncouth  illustration,  and  the  preacher  noticed 
it. 

"  Abraham  Lincoln,"  he  went  on  in  a  more  quiet  voice, 
"  said :  '  There  is  a  physical  difference  between  the  white 
and  the  black  races  which  I  believe  will  forever  forbid 
them  living  together  on  terms  of  social  and  political  equal- 
ity.' Lincoln  was  right.  Educate  the  negro  and  he  be- 
comes a  menace.  Industrial  training  will  give  him  power. 
The  negro  will  become  our  competitor  and  not  our  serv- 
ant, as  God  meant  him  to  be.  The  white  man  must  kill 
him,  for,  as  a  competitor,  the  negro  will  demand  equal 
social  rights,  and  the  Anglo-Saxons  must  annihilate  or 
deport  the  black  race  from  the  South."  The  Hambright 
preacher  was  now  worked  up  to  a  high  pitch  of  excite- 
ment. "  This  whole  education  scheme  for  negroes  is  a 
humbug  and  farce.     I  know  you  have  a  school  in  Dothan 


130  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

promoting  this  folly.  It  is  a  blot  and  a  disgrace  to  the 
community.     You  must  wipe  it  out." 

As  he  repeated  this  last  sentence  the  old  man,  in  his 
frenzy,  raised  his  voice  to  a  shriek.  He  paced  the  pulpit 
like  a  spotted  leopard.  He  shook  his  fist  in  the  direction 
of  Rose  Atkinson,  who  was  now  regarding  him  more  in 
pity  than  in  anger. 

"  Look  this  matter  squarely  in  the  face,"  he  concluded. 
"  The  ages  are  watching  you.  Negro  education  is  a  de- 
liberate attempt  to  overwhelm  our  glorious  Anglo-Saxon 
civilization,  and  bury  it  under  a  black  sea  of  African 
savagery." 

No  sooner  was  the  North  Carolina  preacher  seated 
than  Rev.  William  Durham  rose  and  offered  prayer;  in 
voice,  in  language  and  in  thought  the  prayer  was  as  dif- 
ferent from  the  sermon  as  a  child's  cry  from  an  Indian 
warwhoop.  "  We  have  sinned,  O  God,  we  have  sinned," 
prayed  the  pastor  of  Calvary  Church.  "  Have  mercy  on 
us.  Lead  us  with  thy  truth.  We  are  in  darkness.  Do 
thou  enlighten  us.  Anything  in  us  that  is  not  in  accord 
with  the  spirit  of  Christ,  do  thou  remove  from  us." 

Here  Deacon  Leavitt,  to  the  surprise  of  the  whole  con- 
gregation, echoed  a  loud  "amen."  This  unexpected  in- 
terruption seemed  to  confuse  the  pastor,  and  he  soon 
brought  his  petitions  to  a  close. 

Before  either  the  minister  or  the  congregation  knew 
what  was  happening  Rose  Atkinson  had  risen  from  her 
seat  in  the  Waynor  pew,  and  hurried  down  the  aisle  to 
the  front  of  the  church.  "  Can  I  say  just  a  word  ?  "  she 
asked  Rev.  William  Durham,  while  the  Hambright 
brother  scowled  in  anger.  The  pastor  of  Calvary  Church 
was  taken  aback,  and  bowed  his  consent  in  confusion,  not 
realizing  exactly  what  the  girl  meant.  The  beautiful 
young  Northerner  turned  to  the  congregation,  who  rec- 


REV.  JOHN  DURHAM,  OF  HAMBRIGHT      131 

ognized  her  at  once,  and  began  in  a  quiet  but  distinct  tone 
of  voice :  "  You  all  know  that  I  am  a  teacher  at  Harbi- 
son Institute.  I  have  dedicated  my  life  and  a  large  part 
of  my  fortune  to  negro  education.  I  just  want  to  add  a 
word  to  the  sermon  of  Rev.  John  Durham." 

The  entire  congregation  was  attentive.  Florence  Ash- 
ley leaned  forward  from  her  place  in  the  choir  to  catch 
a  glimpse  of  her  rival.  Deacon  Leavitt,  with  sympathy 
written  all  over  his  face,  also  leaned  forward.  The 
young  men  on  the  back  seats  were  listening  with  eager 
interest. 

"  I  desire  to  say,"  she  went  on,  "  that  I  pity,  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart,  this  prejudiced  man  who  thinks  such 
a  sermon  is  a  Christian  discourse.  He  has  insulted  every 
principle  of  Christianity  and  trampled  the  Golden  Rule 
under  his  feet." 

"  Amen,"  again  echoed  Deacon  Leavitt,  while  Legree 
scowled  savagely  at  the  youthful  speaker. 

"  The  providence  of  God,"  she  continued,  encouraged 
by  the  deacon's  response  and  the  evident  interest  of  all, 
"  the  providence  of  God  has  entrusted  the  negro  race  to 
the  South,  which  cannot  escape  the  trust  if  it  would. 
Talk  about  annihilation  or  deportation  is  the  wildest  folly. 
In  his  riper  years,  as  President  of  the  United  States, 
Abraham  Lincoln  was  enthusiastic  in  his  conviction  that 
the  black  race  had  an  important  contribution  to  our  na- 
tional life.  In  1864  he  declared :  '  They  would  probably 
help,  in  some  trying  time  to  come,  to  keep  the  jewel  of 
liberty  within  the  family  of  freedom.'  The  worst  enemies 
of  the  South  to-day,"  said  the  girl,  looking  directly  at 
John  Durham,  "  are  men  like  you,  sir.  You  are  sowing 
broadcast  the  dragon  teeth  of  racial  debauchery.  The 
law  of  the  color  line  is  that  if  the  white  race  seeks  to  lift 
up  the  blacks  the  line  becomes  fixed  and  permanent,  and 


132  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

the  two  races  keep  apart,  but  if  the  whites  seek  to  em- 
brute  the  negro  they  sink  themselves,  and  the  color  line 
is  blotted  out  on  the  lower  level.  All  history  teaches  this. 
Our  own  Southland  proves  it.  Your  teachings,  sir,  would 
make  our  whole  land  mulatto,  black  outside  and  inside." 

Some  of  the  members  moved  uneasily  to  their  seats 
as  the  girl  hurled  these  denunciations  at  the  head  of  the 
ambassador  of  Christ,  sitting  in  the  pulpit,  but,  with 
flushed  cheeks  and  shining  eyes,  she  kept  on. 

"  What  we  need  to  solve  the  dark  problem  of  our  time 
is  not  the  spirit  of  Herod,  but  the  spirit  of  Christ.  The 
two  races  must  learn  to  work  together  with  mutual  trust 
and  effort.  This  will  demand  love  and  sacrifice.  It  will 
call  for  truth  and  justice.  It  will  require  heroic  courage 
and  martyr  faith,  but  are  not  these  virtues  to  be  found 
all  over  the  beautiful  Southland  ?  " 

She  stood  erect,  lovely  and  gracious  as  a  queen.  In 
the  Ashley  pew  that  day  sat  a  young  man,  Charles  Ash- 
ley, a  brother  of  Florence,  whose  home  was  in  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  where  he  was  a  rising  young  business  man.  He  had 
been  watching  Rose  Atkinson  with  admiring  eyes,  and 
when  she  repeated  these  words  the  young  man  said  to 
himself :  "  She  has  the  old  fellow  backed  into  a  corner, 
all  right." 

"  I  leave  it  with  you,"  she  concluded,  "  who  heard 
Booker  T.  Washington  and  who  have  just  listened  to 
Rev.  John  Durham,  which  of  these  two  men  has  shown 
the  Christian  spirit  in  dealing  with  the  race  question?  " 

She  sat  down,  but  her  words  had  changed  the  entire  at- 
mosphere of  the  service.  One  of  the  verses  of  the  last 
hymn  was: 

"  If  you  cannot  cross  the  ocean, 
And  the  distant  lands  explore, 
You  can  find  the  heathen  nearer, 
You  can  help  them  at  your  door." 


REV.  JOHN  DURHAM,  OF  HAMBR1GHT,       133 

The  congregation  sang  out  the  words  with  a  spirit  that 
made  Peter  Legree  wince  and  scowl  darker  than  ever. 

At  the  close  of  the  service  the  Waynor  pew  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  large  number  who  shook  hands  cordially 
with  Rose  Atkinson,  among  them  Charles  Ashley.  "  I 
live  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,"  he  said,  "  and  Mr.  Fleming  told  me 
about  you.  I  want  to  say  your  words  were  grand  this 
morning."     Rose  flushed  and  bowed  in  silence. 

Only  one  man  shook  hands  with  Rev.  John  Durham, 
and  that  was  Peter  Legree.  "  The  cursed  woman  spoiled 
his  whole  sermon,"  was  the  reflection  of  the  "  Boss." 


CHAPTER  XIV 

IN    TUSCALOOSA    ASYLUM 

The  arrest  of  Jefferson  Lilly  produced,  as  Legree  well 
knew  it  would,  a  revival  of  racial  bitterness  and  suspicion. 
The  question  of  social  equality  was  again  agitated,  and 
stories  were  started  that  the  negroes  had  been  roused  by 
Jefferson  Lilly's  actions  to  demand  every  right  that  the 
white  man  had,  including  the  right  to  choose  a  white  wife 
if  desired.  In  this  way  the  white  people  of  the  com- 
munity were  blinded  to  the  wrongs  of  the  unfortunate 
Jefferson,  and  when  it  was  learned  that  he  had  been  de- 
ported as  a  lunatic  the  majority  of  them  not  only  consid- 
ered his  treatment  as  proper,  but  they  felt  anew  the  debt 
of  gratitude  they  owed  to  the  lynx-eyed  Legree,  who  had 
promptly  nipped  in  the  bud  a  conspiracy  of  the  blacks  to 
overwhelm  Anglo-Saxon  civilization. 

But  there  was  one  heart  that  was  melted  when  she 
heard  of  the  cruel  fate  of  the  unfortunate  young  man. 
Florence  Ashley  wept  in  secret  bitter  tears  of  penitence 
for  her  abrupt  desertion  of  one  who,  just  a  short  time 
before,  she  had  considered  as  her  devoted  lover. 

"  I  wish  I  had  warned  him,"  she  sobbed  to  herself, 
in  her  misery  forgetting  all  about  the  scene  at  the  gate  of 
Harbison,  and  remembering  Jefferson  as  he  looked  when 
he  won  the  race  with  the  flying  Coastland  Express.  But 
love  finds  a  way.  Unable  to  help  him  herself,  she  found 
out,  through  her  father,  the  New  York  address  of  Donald 
Shelby,  and  late  on  the  evening  of  the  day  that  Jefferson 

134 


IN  TUSCALOOSA  ASYLUM  135 

was  deported  this  message  flashed  from  Dothan  to  the 
great  metropolis  on  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic :  "  Come 
back  quick !  Jefferson  Lilly  in  great  trouble.  Florence 
Ashley." 

"  I  knew  it !  I  knew  it !  "  said  Donald  to  himself  as  he 
read  the  message,  and,  folding  it  up  carefully,  put  the 
telegram  in  his  pocket.  He  caught  the  first  train  for  the 
South  out  of  New  York,  and  hurried  back  to  Alabama, 
leaving  some  very  important  legal  business  unattended 
to.  "  I  wonder  what  '  the  great  trouble '  is,"  Donald 
asked  himself  again  and  again.  "  I  know  it  is  the  result 
of  his  fight  with  Legree.  That  serpent  was  eager  to 
strike  him.     I  hope  I  will  not  be  too  late." 

The  fast  train  roared  on  its  Southern  journey  at  ex- 
press speed,  but  to  Donald  it  seemed  to  creep  along.  He 
tried  to  beguile  the  hours  by  reading,  but  he  could  not 
concentrate  his  mind  on  his  book.  He  finally  got  into 
conversation  with  a  young  traveler  from  Pittsburg,  and 
soon  his  new-found  friend  and  he  had  advanced  beyond 
the  discussion  of  the  weather  to  matters  of  interest  to 
both. 

"  You  say  that  you  live  in  Alabama,"  said  the  Pitts- 
burger,  whose  name  was  Horace  Speedwell.  "  I  know  a 
girl  who  lives  in  a  place  called  Dothan,  in  that  State." 

"  Dothan !  "  exclaimed  Donald.     "  That  is  my  town." 

"  I  am  glad  to  meet  you !  "  exclaimed  the  other.  "  I 
have  been  greatly  interested  in  Dothan  since  Rose  Atkin- 
son went  there  to  teach  in  a  freedman's  institute,  or  some- 
thing like  that." 

"  Rose  Atkinson  !  "  again  echoed  Donald.  "  I  know 
her  well.  She  is  a  relative  of  one  of  our  prominent  fam- 
ilies, the  Waynors,  and  she  teaches  in  the  Harbison  Insti- 
tute, an  industrial  school  for  negroes.  I  remember  she 
told  me  once  that  her  home  was  in  Pittsburg." 


136  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  other,  "  she  lived  close  to  my 
father's  home,  and  I  have  known  her  since  she  was  a  lit- 
tle girl.     We  grew  up  together." 

"  She  is  a  noble  young  woman,  and  she  has  already 
made  many  friends  in  Dothan,"  said  Donald  enthusi- 
astically. 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  hear  from  her.  We  all  knew,  of 
course,  how  the  South,  as  a  rule,  looks  on  the  Northern- 
ers who  go  down  there  to  do  anything  for  the  black  folks, 
and  we  all  told  her  she  was  throwing  her  life  away;  but 
she  had  made  up  her  mind  to  do  that  kind  of  work  and  no 
one  could  stop  her.  I  tried  hard  myself,"  he  added  with  a 
little  sigh,  "  to  get  her  to  make  up  her  mind  to  live  in 
Pittsburg,  but  I  failed.  I  was  hoping  you  white  folks 
of  Alabama  would  drive  her  back  soon,"  he  concluded 
with  a  smile. 

"  Some  of  Dothan's  citizens  would  like  to  do  that,  per- 
haps," Donald  replied,  "  but  she  has  been  working  won- 
ders in  our  town.  Through  her  efforts  Booker  T.  Wash- 
ington gave  an  address  there  lately,  and  she  is  trying  to 
change  the  prejudice  of  the  whites,  which  has  been  rather 
strong  against  the  school.  Her  success  has  aroused  our 
city  '  Boss,'  a  fellow  called  Legree,  and  he  does  not  like 
her  at  all." 

"  He  had  better  not  harm  Rose  Atkinson !  "  said  the 
Pittsburger  with  a  glitter  in  his  eye.  "  I  have  vowed  that 
if  any  negro  hater  touched  a  hair  of  her  head  Horace 
Speedwell's  whole  life  will  be  devoted  wreaking  ven- 
geance on  the  villain." 

Donald  Shelby  laughed  uproariously  and  replied,  "  She 
has  already  many  friends  in  Dothan,  and  you  know  her 
relatives,  the  Waynors,  are  the  leading  people  in  the  com- 
munity, so  she  is  well  protected.     Besides,"  he  continued, 


IN  TUSCALOOSA  ASYLUM  137 

looking  at  his  new  friend,  "  I  am  glad  to  confess  that  I 
am  an  admirer  of  the  young  lady  myself,  and  she  has  as- 
sured me  that  if  she  needed  any  assistance  at  any  time  she 
would  call  on  me." 

Horace  Speedwell  was  silent.  He  evidently  did  not 
care  to  pursue  the  subject  further,  but  a  little  later  he 
asked,  u  Why  are  you  people  in  the  South  so  dead  set 
against  educating  the  colored  people  ?  " 

"  We  are  not,"  replied  Donald  as  the  train  was  thun- 
dering through  Virginia.  "  Booker  T.  Washington,  who 
was  born  in  this  grand  old  State  of  Virginia,  is  honored 
throughout  the  South  by  our  best  people,  and  his  great 
Tuskegee  Institute  is,  in  part,  supported  by  the  State  of 
Alabama.  We  spend  millions  every  year  in  the  South 
educating  negroes." 

"  But  some  Southern  books  that  I  have  been  reading 
lately,"  protested  Mr.  Speedwell,  "  seem  to  look  on  negro 
education  as  a  farce  and  a  wicked  waste  of  time  and 
money,  and  I  know  that  Rose  Atkinson  has  often  spoken 
of  the  opposition  she  expected  to  meet." 

"  Well,"  Donald  replied  slowly,  thinking  of  Legree, 
"  there  are  some  unthinking  and  selfish  white  people  who 
would  like  to  see  the  negroes  kept  as  near  the  brute  as 
possible  in  every  way,  just  as  was  attempted  in  slavery 
times  by  some  slave  owners;  but  sentiment  is  changing 
all  over  the  South,  and  we  are  beginning  to  see,  as  E.  G. 
Murphy,  of  our  State  of  Alabama  puts  it,  that  the  trouble- 
some negro  is  not  the  educated  but  the  ignorant  negro. 
I  confess,"  he  continued,  "  that  since  Miss  Atkinson  has 
come  to  Dothan,  and  since  I  have  heard  Dr.  Washington 
speak,  I  have  clearer  views  on  that  subject  than  I  ever 
had  before." 

"  Do  you   think  the   girl   is   happy  in  her   work  in 


138  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Dothan  ?  "  asked  Speedwell,  unable  to  keep  back  the  ques- 
tion and  glancing  at  Donald  with  a  pathetic  look  in  his 
eyes. 

"  She  seems  perfectly  happy,  and  her  success  seems 
assured,  in  spite  of  some  opposition,"  answered  the  other. 

The  young  Pittsburger  sighed.  "  I  can't  understand," 
he  said  slowly.  "  How  a  girl  like  her  can  devote  herself 
to  such  a  life,  when  she  has  the  whole  world  before  her, 
is  beyond  comprehension.  Did  you  know,  sir,  that  she  is 
a  millionaire  in  her  own  right?  Her  father  is  dead,  but 
her  mother  and  her  brother  are  living  in  Pittsburg." 

"  So  I  have  understood,"  said  Donald. 

The  conversation  changed  to  other  subjects,  and  when 
they  reached  Richmond  Horace  Speedwell  rose  to  leave 
the  train. 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  have  met  you,"  said  Donald,  shaking 
his  hand  heartily.  "  Come  down  to  Dothan  and  see  me. 
I  will  tell  Miss  Atkinson  I  saw  you." 

"  Thank  you ! "  the  Pittsburger  replied  cordially. 
"  Tell  her  I  am  expecting  to  take  a  trip  to  Dothan  before 
long.     I  would  like  to  see  her  again." 

The  rest  of  the  journey  was  exceedingly  tedious,  and 
Donald  was  greatly  relieved  when  the  train  at  last  rushed 
into  the  station  at  Dothan.  Jumping  into  a  carriage  he 
drove  rapidly  to  Mr.  Ashley's  home.  "  I  will  see  Flor- 
ence first,"  he  concluded. 

It  was  late  on  Monday  afternoon  when  he  rang  the 
bell,  and  Florence  Ashley  herself,  looking  pale  and  hag- 
gard, came  to  the  door. 

"  I  have  been  waiting  for  you  all  the  afternoon,"  she 
began  at  once.  "  I  thought  you  would  come  here  on  your 
arrival.  I  am  so  glad  you  have  come  back.  They  have 
almost  killed  Jefferson  Lilly."  And  her  pent-up  feelings 
gave  way  in  an  outburst  of  tears. 


IN  TUSCALOOSA  ASYLUM  139 

Donald  was  alarmed.  "  Where  is  he  ? "  he  asked 
eagerly. 

The  girl  controlled  herself  with  an  effort,  and,  amid 
her  tears,  told  the  story  of  Jefferson's  wrongs,  as  she  had 
learned  them  from  her  father.  "  I  wanted  father  to  go 
to  his  assistance,"  she  said,  "  but  he  was  afraid  the  com- 
munity would  misunderstand  it  and  he  knew  it  would 
anger  Legree." 

Donald  Shelby  was  beside  himself  with  indignation. 
"  Did  they  really  send  him  to  Tuscaloosa  ?  "  he  asked  in 
amazement. 

"  He  was  taken  there  on  Saturday  evening,"  Florence 
Ashley  replied,  "  and  some  who  saw  him  say  that  he  was 
acting  very  queerly.  I  am  afraid  they  have  killed  him." 
And  the  girl  broke  down  again. 

"  I  will  soon  find  out  how  he  is ! "  exclaimed  Donald, 
a  look  of  stern  determination  coming  into  his  face. 

"  Promise  me,"  said  Florence  as  they  parted,  "  that  you 
will  not  tell  him  that  I  had  anything  to  do  with  your  re- 
turn from  New  York." 

"  All  right,"  he  replied,  hastily  jumping  into  the  waiting 
carriage,  and  asking  the  driver  to  take  him  at  once  to 
Legree's  office.  Arriving  there  he  opened  the  door  and 
rushed  into  the  presence  of  the  city  "  Boss,"  who  hap- 
pened to  be  holding  an  earnest  conference  about  some 
matter  with  the  Rev.  John  Durham,  of  Hambright.  Pay- 
ing no  attention  whatever  to  the  North  Carolina  preacher 
he  broke  forth,  "  What  have  you  done  with  Jefferson 
Lilly?" 

Legree  quickly  recovered  from  his  surprise  at  the  sud- 
den interruption  of  the  excited  young  lawyer  and  an- 
swered with  a  sneer,  "  We  sent  that  lunatic  to  Tusca- 
loosa, and  we  may  send  a  few  more  there  before  long." 

Walking  in  front  of  the  master  of  Dothan,  Donald 


140  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Shelby  shook  his  fist  in  his  face,  and  said  between  his 
teeth,  "  You  black  scoundrel,  you  are  the  blackest  rascal 
in  Alabama.  I  will  see  that  you  are  driven  out  of  this 
town  yet  or  my  name  is  not  Donald  Shelby." 

Legree  grew  visibly  pale  at  the  threat  and  made  no 
reply,  while  Donald,  his  eyes  flashing  fire,  his  jaws  locked 
and  his  hands  quivering,  without  another  word  left  the 
room. 

He  rushed  to  the  depot  and  found  a  train  about  to 
leave  for  Tuscaloosa  in  a  short  time  and  got  on  board. 
Early  the  next  morning  he  arrived  in  that  city.  Going 
directly  to  the  asylum,  he  felt  the  thrill  of  horror  that 
most  people  feel  as  they  approach  such  institutions.  He 
was  soon  admitted  and  sat  down  in  a  large  waiting  room, 
while  an  attendant  sought  the  head  physician,  for  whom 
Donald  had  inquired.  In  this  waiting  room  were  many 
of  the  inmates  of  the  asylum,  who  wandered  harmlessly 
around,  muttering  to  themselves,  and  looking  vacantly  at 
Donald  out  of  eyes  in  which  the  light  of  reason  had  died. 
He  was  deeply  depressed  as  he  watched  these  poor  vic- 
tims of  mental  disease,  and  tried  to  realize  the  buried 
hopes  and  broken  lives  of  these  human  wrecks  who  had 
found  refuge  inside  these  fatal  walls.  He  looked  eagerly 
among  them  for  his  friend,  but  the  familiar  figure  of 
Jefferson  Lilly  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  After  a  long 
wait  the  head  official  came,  and  Donald  inquired  eagerly 
if  there  was  an  inmate  there  who  had  been  sent  from 
Dothan  —  Jefferson  Lilly  by  name. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  other.  "  He  arrived  here  very  sick, 
and  has  been  consigned  to  the  hospital.  I  will  call  a  doc- 
tor and  have  him  take  you  to  his  room." 

A  kindly  looking,  middle-aged  doctor  came,  and  Don- 
ald accompanied  him  to  the  hospital  of  the  asylum.  In 
a  few  moments  he  stood  beside  the  cot  on  which  the 


IN  TUSCALOOSA  ASYLUM  141 

cruelly  wronged  Jefferson  lay.  His  eyes  were  closed,  his 
cheeks  were  flushed  with  fever  and  he  was  breathing 
heavily. 

"Is  he  very  sick?"  whispered  Donald. 

"  We  cannot  quite  make  out  his  case,"  answered  the 
doctor  quietly.  "  He  was  sent  here  as  a  dangerous  luna- 
tic who  should  be  carefully  guarded,  but  we  think  the 
man  is  simply  ill  with  an  attack  of  brain  fever,  and  some 
of  us  surmise  that  he  may  have  been  drugged.  Do  you 
know  him  ?  " 

"  He  is  my  friend  —  a  noble  fellow,"  answered  Donald 
with  tears  in  his  eyes.  "  He  is  no  more  a  lunatic  than 
I  am,  but  some  white  devils  in  Dothan  got  after  him  and 
have  tried  to  wreck  his  life." 

The  doctor  made  no  reply,  but  nodded  his  head  know- 
ingly. "  All  he  needs  now  is  absolute  rest  and  quiet,"  said 
the  doctor.  "  His  whole  system  has  evidently  had  a  very 
severe  shock,  but  he  will  be  all  right  again  soon.  He  has 
a  strong  constitution." 

"  I  will  sit  beside  him,"  said  Donald.  "  I  want  to  be 
here  when  he  wakes  up." 

The  doctor  at  first  made  some  objection,  but  Donald 
begged  so  hard  that  at  last  he  gave  him  permission  to 
remain  that  day  by  Jefferson's  side.  It  was  late  in  the 
afternoon  when  the  unconscious  man  moaned,  turned  over 
on  his  side  and  slowly  opened  his  eyes. 

"  Donald !  "  he  said  feebly,  looking  at  his  friend  in  won- 
der.   "What  is  it,  Donald?    Where  am  I?" 

"  Keep  quiet,  Jefferson.  You  are  all  right,"  said  Don- 
ald reassuringly.     "  You  have  been  sick." 

"  I  remember,"  he  went  on  slowly,  looking  at  Donald  in 
a  pitiful  way.  "  There  was  a  mob.  I  ran,  Donald,  I  ran. 
I  was  a  coward.  I  ran  away."  Tears  flowed  from  his 
eyes  and  his  whole  body  shook. 


142  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Donald  began  to  understand.  The  memory  of  his  ig- 
nominious flight  before  the  mob  was  torturing  him  con- 
stantly. It  was  this  that  had  hastened  his  physical  col- 
lapse. 

"  Courage,  Jefferson ! "  his  friend  answered  gently. 
"  Keep  quiet  or  the  doctor  will  not  let  me  stay  here.  It 
was  no  disgrace  to  run  from  that  savage  mob.  An  un- 
armed man  has  the  right  to  run  from  a  bloodthirsty  and 
maddened  beast." 

"  But  I  should  have  faced  them,  Donald,  and  defied 
them.  I  felt  my  whole  soul  collapse  the  moment  I  began 
to  run.     I  never  ran  before  from  either  man  or  devil." 

"  A  wild  mob  is  more  savage  than  a  lion  from  the 
jungles  of  Africa,"  said  Donald,  trying  to  comfort  his 
mind.  "  It  would  have  been  madness  to  have  faced  that 
crowd  of  crazy  brutes  single-handed  and  alone.  You 
did  just  what  was  right  —  to  run  for  your  life." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  "  said  Jefferson.  "  Give  me  your 
hand,  Donald." 

Donald  tenderly  reached  him  his  hand.  The  sick  man 
grasped  it  and,  bowing  his  head,  he  wet  it  with  his  tears 
and  said,  "  Since  you  forgive  me,  Donald,  I  will  try  to 
forget  it.  But  I  have  learned  a  lesson.  I  am  not  as 
strong  as  I  thought  I  was.  I  used  to  think  I  could  hold 
my  own  anywhere,  but  I  have  come  to  feel  my  need  of 
a  higher  strength  than  my  own.  Won't  you  pray  for  me, 
Donald?    I  know  you  are  a  Christian." 

And  Donald  knelt  by  the  side  of  his  prostrate  friend 
and  prayed. 


CHAPTER  XV 

JEFFERSON    LILLY    LEAVES    THE    ASYLUM 

"  Who  telegraphed  you  to  come  to  my  help  ?  "  asked 
Jefferson,  when  he  began  to  feel  stronger,  a  week  or  so 
after  Donald's  arrival  at  the  asylum.  His  friend,  in  a 
conversation,  had  inadvertently  referred  to  the  telegram 
he  had  received  in  New  York. 

Donald  looked  guilty  and  stammered,  "  I  promised  not 
to  tell." 

"  Was  it  Florence  Ashley  ?  "  Jefferson  asked  eagerly. 

Donald  wished  he  had  been  free  to  tell  all  about  it  and 
his  conversation  with  the  agitated  Florence,  but  he  re- 
membered his  promise  to  the  girl,  and  he  replied,  "  It 
was  a  good  friend  of  yours.  You  will  find  out  all  about 
it  some  day.  You  know  you  have  several  warm  friends 
in  Dothan." 

"  I  wish  it  had  been  Florence  Ashley,"  said  Jefferson 
plaintively.  "  She  spurned  me,  and  that  drove  me  wild. 
I  wonder  if  I  shall  ever  see  her.  I  don't  want  to  visit 
Dothan  again." 

"  Yes,  you  will  come  back  to  Dothan,"  replied  his 
friend  cheerfully,  "  and  Florence  will  be  delighted  to 
see  you.  You  are  greatly  mistaken  in  thinking  she  has 
spurned  you.  It  is  Legree  she  has  spurned.  She  will 
be  expecting  a  letter  from  you." 

"  Do  you  really  think  so  ?  "  asked  the  desponding  Jef- 
ferson.    "  If  I  could  only  know  that  she  cared  for  me 

143 


144-  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

I  believe  all  my  other  bitter  memories  of  Dothan  would 
be  sweetened,  but  I  began  to  think  that  she,  too,  looked 
on  me  as  a  social  leper." 

"  Nonsense,  Jefferson.  Write  her  at  once.  I  know 
she  will  be  expecting  a  letter." 

Accordingly,  a  day  or  two  later  a  letter,  on  the  Tusca- 
loosa Asylum  stationery,  came  to  the  Ashley  home  in 
Dothan.  It  was  addressed  in  a  masculine  hand  to  "  Miss 
Florence  Ashley."  Florence  happened  to  be  away  from 
home  when  the  letter  came,  and  her  mother,  suspecting 
who  the  writer  of  the  letter  was,  and  eager  to  know  what 
it  contained,  opened  it  and  read  as  follows : 

"  Hospital  of  Tuscaloosa  Asylum,  Ala.,  June  14,  190 — 

"  My  Dear  Florence  :  I  am  getting  better,  but  the 
doctor  says  that  I  have  been  very  sick,  and  I  cannot 
write  a  long  letter.  I  wonder  if  you  have  forsaken  me. 
If  you  have,  this  lovely  State  of  my  fathers  has  lost  all 
its  charms.  I  am  afraid,  in  some  way,  I  have  offended 
you,  but  my  heart  is  yours  —  yours  alone  and  yours  al- 
ways. Write  me  just  a  word.  Tell  me  if  I  can  still  call 
you  Florence.  A  word  from  you  will  be  like  new  life. 
Write  me  in  care  of  Barrett  and  Williamson,  lawyers, 
Montgomery,  as  I  am  hoping  to  be  able  to  leave  here 
very  soon. 

"  Yours  affectionately, 

"  Jefferson." 

"  The  idea !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Ashley  to  herself  aloud, 
after  she  had  read,  with  great  surprise,  Jefferson's  let- 
ter. "  The  poor  fellow's  head  is  surely  turned  or  he 
would  not  write  such  a  letter  to  Florence.  She  is  hardly 
acquainted  with  him.  I  will  not  trouble  her  with  this 
foolish  letter  of  a  lunatic.     Even  if  he  recovers,  he  is 


JEFFERSON  LEAVES  THE  ASYLUM       145 

now  socially  impossible,  and  I  wish  Florence  to  have  no 
more  to  do  with  him." 

This  explains  why  Jefferson's  letter  was  not  answered, 
and  why  that  young  man  finally  despaired  of  ever  hear- 
ing from  her  again. 

After  two  weeks  Donald  bade  his  friend  good-by,  say- 
ing :  "  You  will  be  all  right  again  in  a  few  days,  and  I 
must  return  to  New  York  at  once.  Spend  the  summer 
in  northern  Alabama  recuperating,  and  by  fall  I  will 
have  Dothan  cleaned  out,  so  that  you  can  visit  me  again 
and  complete  the  conquest  of  the  fair  Florence,  which 
has  been  so  rudely  interrupted." 

"  I  am  afraid  Florence  has  gone  out  of  my  life,"  re- 
plied Jefferson  with  a  look  of  despair.  "  I  do  not  think 
she  will  answer  my  letter.  What  will  I  do  about  this 
outrage  of  Legree,  breaking  down  my  health  and  sending 
me  to  an  insane  asylum  ?  " 

As  Jefferson  recovered  his  health  and  began  to  reflect 
on  all  the  injustice  which  he  had  suffered  his  blood  boiled, 
and  he  longed  to  be  able  to  vindicate  himself. 

"  I  would  not  advise  you  to  try  to  bring  Legree  to 
justice.  He  controls  everything  in  Dothan,  and  you 
simply  cannot  get  justice  until  he  is  driven  from  power." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me,  Donald,  that  an  American 
citizen,  innocent  of  any  charge,  can  be  put  in  a  filthy 
prison  and  starved,  and  then  sent  to  a  madhouse,  and 
there  is  no  way  of  getting  justice?  Is  that  the  kind  of 
government  we  have  in  Alabama  ?  " 

"  Law  is  only  a  name,"  rejoined  his  friend  seriously, 
"  wherever  Legreeism  exists  in  our  State." 

"  Then  I  have  lost  my  love  for  Alabama,  even  if  it  is 
the  State  of  my  fathers  and  the  most  beautiful  in  the 
Union." 

"  Don't  be  foolish,"  said  Donald  earnestly.     "  You  re- 


146  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

member  how  you  asked  me  not  to  judge  the  million 
blacks  in  Alabama  by  the  nine  wretches  who  were 
lynched  the  past  year.  Don't  judge  Alabama  by  its  Le- 
greeism.  Unite  with  our  best  citizens  in  driving  this 
accursed  spirit  of  lawless  arrogance  out  of  our  fair 
State." 

Jefferson  looked  at  his  friend  a  moment  and  then  ex- 
claimed, with  a  tear  in  his  eye :  "  Donald,  I  once  thought 
I  was  a  bolder  and  braver  man  than  you,  but  I  see  I  was 
mistaken.  You  are  right.  My  place  is  in  Alabama  on 
the  firing  line.  I  may  get  back  to  Dothan  yet  to  finish 
my  fight  there." 

"  Do  not  return  until  you  are  perfectly  strong  again," 
answered  his  friend  with  a  little  anxiety  in  his  face. 
Knowing  the  dauntless  spirit  of  Jefferson,  he  was  afraid 
he  would  again  put  himself  in  Legree's  power  before  he 
had  fully  recovered  his  health. 

"  Don't  be  afraid,"  he  replied.  "  I  put  myself  in  that 
serpent's  power  too  easily  the  last  time.  I  am  beginning 
to  learn  what  a  horrible  monster  Legreeism  has  grown 
to  be.     I  shall  be  wiser  next  time." 

"  Good-by,  then,  and  do  not  fear  that  Florence  has 
forgotten  you.  Faint  heart  ne'er  won  fair  lady,  you 
know." 

The  two  friends  shook  hands  most  cordially  and 
parted. 

A  few  days  later  Jefferson  Lilly,  looking  pale  and 
thin,  left  the  hospital  of  the  asylum  and  went  to  Mont- 
gomery. He  had  hoped  to  find  a  letter  from  Florence 
Ashley  awaiting  him,  but  he  was  disappointed.  His  re- 
cital of  his  wrongs  in  Dothan  to  some  of  his  friends  in 
Montgomery  made  his  friends  there  furious,  but  they 
well  knew  that  any  legal  redress  was  impossible.  Feel- 
ing the  intensity  of  the  summer  heat,  Jefferson  decided 


JEFFERSON  LEAVES  THE  ASYLUM       147 

to  take  Donald  Shelby's  advice  and  spend  a  few  months 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  in  order  to  recuperate 
his  health.  He  had  no  decided  plans  for  his  future,  but 
Dothan  still  attracted  him.  He  heard  not  a  word  from 
Florence  Ashley,  but  he  could  not  forget  her.  He 
thought  it  would  be  useless  to  address  her  a  second  let- 
ter after  his  repeated  rebuffs,  but  he  still  hoped  against 
hope  she  would  write.  Sometimes  the  fair  Northerner 
came  to  his  mind,  and  he  longed  to  be  back  on  the  battle- 
field helping  Rose  Atkinson  in  her  noble  struggle  for  a 
weak  and  helpless  race. 

In  his  leisure  hours  that  summer  Jefferson  studied  the 
whole  race  question  with  a  new  interest.  He  made  him- 
self familiar  with  the  history  of  the  enforced  transfer- 
ence of  the  Africans  to  America  from  the  landing  of  the 
first  twenty  slaves  from  Guinea  at  Jamestown,  in  1619, 
up  to  the  time,  just  before  the  war,  when  the  slave  ship 
'Clotilde  dumped  its  cargo  of  human  chattels  among  the 
canebrakes  of  Mobile  Bay.  Although  he  had  been  born 
and  brought  up  in  the  South,  where  the  negro  lived,  he 
soon  found  he  had  been  in  ignorance  of  many  important 
facts  in  regard  to  the  black  man  and  his  pathetic  history. 
He  studied  the  laws  of  the  old  days  of  slavery  and  was 
surprised  to  see  that  the  black  man,  as  a  slave,  had  abso- 
lutely no  opportunity  for  any  real  progress.  The  law 
recognized  no  marriage  of  slaves  as  legal.  The  slave 
was  unable  to  possess  property,  and  had  no  more  legal 
authority  over  his  child  than  the  cow  has  over  her  calf. 
The  education  of  slaves  was  forbidden  under  severe  pen- 
alties. Any  instruction,  even  in  regard  to  religion,  was 
only  tolerated  when  it  was  oral  instruction.  Jefferson 
could  easily  see  the  philosophy  of  these  laws,  which  are 
founded  on  the  self-evident  fact  that  family  life  and 
education  among  slaves  are  incompatible  with  the  insti- 


148  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

tution  of  slavery.  Jefferson  also  restudied  carefully  the 
story  of  the  days  of  the  reconstruction  period  —  that 
dark  era  when  the  postbellum  politician,  the  carpetbag- 
gers and  the  scalawags  made  the  unfortunate  negro  their 
stalking-horse,  by  means  of  whom  they  captured  the  pub- 
lic treasuries  in  order  that  they  might  loot  them  to  their 
own  enrichment.  His  study  of  this  whole  black  page  of 
history  gave  him  a  new  sympathy  with  his  fellow-South- 
erners, black  and  white  alike. 

"  Thomas  Nelson  Page  is  right ! "  he  exclaimed  aloud 
to  himself  one  day  as  he  finished  reading  this  paragraph 
in  one  of  Mr.  Page's  books :  "  The  injury  to  the  whites 
was  not  the  only  injury  caused  by  the  reconstruction 
system.  To  the  negro,  the  objects  of  its  bounty,  it  was 
no  less  a  calamity.  He  was  taught  that  the  Southern 
white  man  was  his  enemy,  when  he  should  have  been 
taught  to  cultivate  his  friendship.  He  was  told  he  was 
the  equal  of  the  white  man  when  he  was  not;  that  he 
was  the  ward  of  the  nation  when  he  should  have  been 
trained  to  self-reliance ;  that  the  government  would  sus- 
tain him  when  he  could  not  be  sustained.  In  legislation 
he  was  taught  thieving;  in  politics  to  slavishly  follow 
his  leaders;  in  private  life  he  was  taught  insolence.  To 
these  teachings  may  be  traced  most  of  the  misfortunes 
of  the  negro  race,  and  indeed  of  the  whole  South,  since 
the  war." 

This  study  aroused  his  indignation  more  intensely 
against  Legree  and  Legreeism. 

"  That  vile  vulture,  who  rules  like  an  emperor  in 
Dothan,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  is  the  modern  successor 
to  the  carpetbaggers  and  scalawags.  Such  white  men  as 
he,  who  thrive  on  racial  hate,  are  the  present-day  curse 
of  our  Southland." 

At  cotton-picking  time  Jefferson  was  visiting  a  friend 


JEFFERSON  LEAVES  THE  ASYLUM       149 

of  his  father's,  Harold  Stacey,  who  owned  a  large  plan- 
tation. Mr.  Stacey  had  inherited  this  estate  from  his 
father,  and  most  of  the  colored  folks  on  the  plantation 
had  been  born  on  it,  many  of  them  as  slaves.  Jefferson, 
to  his  delight,  found  Mr.  Stacey  a  man  who  was  also 
interested  in  the  negro  question,  and  who  had  himself 
solved  some  of  the  difficulties  which  meet  the  white  man 
in  dealing  with  the  blacks  in  our  day.  His  negroes  had 
neat  and  comfortable-looking  cabins,  surrounded  by  lit- 
tle gardens.  His  entire  plantation  presented  an  appear- 
ance of  prosperity  that  contrasted  greatly  with  some 
others  which  Jefferson  had  visited.  His  cotton  crop  was 
a  rich  yield  that  year,  and  it  was  a  picturesque  sight  to 
watch  the  dusky  pickers  of  all  ages  go  through  the  field, 
which  was  white  with  bolls  of  cotton,  and  gather  the 
fluffy  bolls  of  white  into  the  little  sacks  which  each 
picker  carried.  At  the  end  of  the  rows  were  great 
hampers,  into  which  the  cotton  was  packed.  As  the 
hampers  were  filled  a  black  Jehu,  with  a  team  of  mules, 
hauled  them  to  the  gins,  where  the  seed  was  extracted 
by  the  ingenious  cotton  gin,  which  Eli  Whitney  gave  to 
the  South  in  1792,  thereby  vastly  increasing  the  acreage 
of  cotton  in  the  Southern  States,  and  fastening  more 
firmly  than  ever  the  chains  on  a  million  slaves. 

As  Jefferson  and  Mr.  Stacey  walked  around  the  cot- 
ton field  the  young  man  noticed  that  every  cotton  plant 
had  from  ten  to  fourteen  bolls  of  cotton,  and  he  re- 
marked to  his  host :  "  You  must  use  the  best  methods 
of  agriculture  on  your  plantation,  for  I  can  see  you  have 
a  wonderful  crop  of  cotton." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Mr.  Stacey.  "  I  have  in  recent  years 
employed  two  Tuskegee  graduates,  who  have  charge  of 
the  plantation.  They  are  scientific  farmers  and  they 
use  the  most  modern  methods.     The  first  year  they  were 


150  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

in  charge  they  increased  the  yield  of  cotton  about  fifty 
pounds  an  acre." 

"  Watch  those  pickers,"  he  continued,  pointing  to  the 
active  blacks,  who  were  picking  the  cotton  with  deft 
fingers,  gathering  every  ripe  boll  in  the  rows.  "  I  get 
a  third  more  labor,"  he  went  on,  "  out  of  my  free  negroes 
than  my  father  got  out  of  his  slaves." 

Jefferson  noticed  the  quick  attention  given  by  all  to 
Mr.  Stacey's  slightest  commands,  and  at  last  he  inquired, 
"  Mr.  Stacey,  tell  me  the  secret  of  your  influence  over 
these  colored  workers  of  yours.  You  do  not  drive  them 
like  cattle,  or  hound  them  like  dogs,  and  yet  they  are  the 
most  obedient  negroes  I  have  seen  in  the  South." 

Mr.  Stacey  sat  down  on  top  of  a  large  hamper  and  re- 
plied, "  I  long  ago  found  out  the  best  way  for  a  white 
man  to  treat  a  negro.  He  should  treat  the  average  negro 
like  a  child  is  treated,  with  justice  and  kindness,  but 
with  great  firmness.  When  negroes  are  treated  in  this 
way  they  become  the  most  loyal  servants  of  the  world 
and  absolutely  trustworthy  where  they  are  put  in  charge 
of  any  work." 

At  this  reply  Jefferson  at  once  said,  "  I  think  I  re- 
member my  father  once  saying  something  just  like  that." 

"  I  am  sure  you  do,"  answered  his  host.  "  Your 
father  and  I  often  discussed  this  matter,  and  we  were 
both  of  the  same  opinion,  and  we  both  proved  we  were 
right  by  our  experience  with  our  black  hands." 

"  The  trouble  with  so  many  white  men,"  went  on  Mr. 
Stacey,  "  is  that  they  treat  the  negroes  as  brutes  or  devils, 
instead  of  treating  them  as  children.  The  negroes  are  a 
child  race,  but  they  are  human,  like  the  rest  of  us.  Treat 
them  as  brutes  and  they  become  brutal ;  treat  them  as 
devils  and  you  make  them  devilish.  The  brutal  and 
devilish  negroes  that  have  brought  such  a  dread  over  the 


JEFFERSON  LEAVES  THE  ASYLUM       151 

South  are  the  product  of  the  white  man's  ignorance  of 
how  to  properly  handle  these  blacks.  I  have  always 
treated  my  negroes  as  human  beings  and  no  devilish 
crime  has  ever  been  charged  against  one  of  my  negroes." 

"  You  have  given  me  a  new  idea  about  the  solution 
of  the  dark  problem  of  Alabama,"  responded  Jefferson 
slowly.  "  I  understand  what  you  mean  exactly.  One 
day  I  was  sitting  on  the  porch  of  a  lawyer's  house  in 
Montgomery,  and  a  bright  little  black  girl  wandered  out 
on  the  front  lawn.  My  friend  shouted,  in  a  loud,  angry 
tone,  to  the  frightened  little  pickaninny :  '  Get  back  of 
the  house,  you  little  black  devil ! '  I  thought  at  the  time 
that  it  was  too  bad  to  treat  a  little  child  in  such  a  rough 
way,  but  I  thought  that  was  the  only  way  to  handle 
darkies;  but  I  believe  you  are  right.  Such  language 
and  treatment  awakes  the  brute  and  devil  nature  in  this 
child  race  and  makes  the  negro  unsafe.  Your  kind, 
just,  firm  treatment  is  wiser  in  every  way." 

"  That  is  just  my  point,"  said  Mr.  Stacey  with  em- 
phasis. "  There  are  two  phrases  on  the  lips  of  the  whites 
in  the  South  that  are  doing  more  to  spoil  the  negroes 
and  make  them  a  problem  than  anything  else  in  our 
day." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  Jefferson  with  great  in- 
terest. 

"  I  mean  that  the  constant  reference  to  negroes  as 
'  black  devils '  and  '  damned  niggers '  has  had  a  tre- 
mendous influence  in  bedeviling  the  blacks.  Only  a 
brutal  or  an  ignorant  white  man  can  use  these  vulgar 
and  unwise  terms." 

Jefferson  was  astonished  to  notice  the  earnestness  with" 
which  Mr.  Stacey  spoke  these  words. 

"What  do  you  think  of  negro  education?"  Jefferson 
asked  a  little  later. 


152  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  I  am  in  favor  of  it,  just  as  I  am  in  favor  of  the  edu- 
cation of  all  children.  I  hold  the  negro  to  be  a  child 
race.  Like  children,  they  need,  first  of  all,  a  wise  and 
sound  education." 

"  But  will  not  the  progress  of  the  negro  complicate 
matters,  as  so  many  think,  by  making  amalgamation  a 
horrible  possibility  ?  "  asked  Jefferson. 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  Mr.  Stacey  at  once.  "  I  am  an 
old  man  and  I  have  lived  among  the  blacks  all  my  life, 
and  I  am  convinced  that  it  is  only  when  both  the  whites 
and  the  blacks  are  ignorant  and  degraded  that  they 
amalgamate.  Educate  the  black  man  and  you  decrease 
the  danger  of  mulattoism.  Compare  my  plantation  with 
those  of  some  white  men  who  believe  in  keeping  the 
negro  as  near  the  brute  as  possible,  and  you  can  see  for 
yourself.  My  negroes  are  black  negroes,  and  lynching 
is  unknown  among  them,  for  the  crime  for  which  we 
lynch  negroes  is  unknown.  You  well  know  that  many 
other  plantations  tell  a  different  story,  and  if  you  in- 
vestigate you  will  find  that  my  reasoning  is  correct.  I 
am  an  ardent  admirer  of  Booker  T.  Washington,  and  I 
have  given  a  large  sum  to  his  Tuskegee  Institute." 

"  I  heard  President  Washington  lately  at  Dothan," 
said  Jefferson. 

"  He  is  the  Moses  of  his  race !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Stacey 
with  great  enthusiasm. 

"  He  is  having  a  tremendous  influence  all  over  the 
South  in  uplifting  the  negro,  and  he  will  yet  lead  the  en- 
tire black  race  out  of  its  bondage  of  ignorance  and  make 
the  negro  a  hundredfold  more  valuable  in  every  way  than 
he  is  to-day." 

"  You  do  not  think,  then,  that  the  time  will  ever  come 
when  the  South  will  seek  to  deport  the  black  race  ?  " 

Mr.  Stacey  laughed  loudly.     "  That  is  surely  a  joke," 


JEFFERSON  LEAVES  THE  ASYLUM       153 

he  replied  at  length.  "  Who  would  do  the  work  of  the 
South  if  our  blacks  left  us?  This  hot  climate  is  too 
much  for  the  white  man.  It  takes  a  negro  to  stand  the 
heat  in  the  summer  time  and  do  the  hard  manual  labor 
that  must  be  done.  Get  out  in  that  hot  sun  yourself  and 
pick  cotton  for  a  few  hours  and  you  will  be  exhausted, 
but  those  black  folks  just  enjoy  it." 

That  evening  Jefferson  related  to  Mr.  Stacey  his  own 
experience  in  Dothan. 

Mr.  Stacey  was  greatly  interested.  "  My  poor  boy !  " 
he  exclaimed,  "  you  have  learned  by  your  own  experience 
how  racial  hate  is  demoralizing  the  white  man  and  mak- 
ing him  an  anarchist  and  a  lawless  tyrant.  However,  I 
think  you  were  a  little  unwise  in  giving  Legree  such  ad- 
vantage over  you." 

"  I  know  it,"  replied  Jefferson  frankly,  "  but  I  have 
learned  a  lesson  from  my  misfortunes,  and  I  expect  to 
renew  my  fight  against  these  modern  carpetbaggers  and 
scalawags  like  him  and  drive  them  from  our  State." 

"  Be  careful,"  was  his  old  friend's  advice.  "  Men  like 
Legree  are  devils  incarnate." 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE   DREADED    HORROR 

"  Help,  help,  murder,  police." 

A  woman's  voice  rose  in  a  shriek  of  despair  as  she 
shouted  these  words  from  a  little  grove  not  far  from 
a  side  entrance  to  the  grounds  of  Harbison  Institute. 
Nafti  Thomas  and  a  fellow-student,  Walter  Wilkins, 
were  just  leaving  the  grounds  of  the  school,  and,  at  the 
first  call  for  assistance,  they  rushed  into  the  grove. 

In  a  little  valley,  hidden  among  the  trees,  a  terrible 
sight  met  their  eyes.  A  white  woman  was  shrieking  and 
crying  beside  the  still  form  of  a  little  white  girl,  whose 
bleeding  face  and  torn  dress  revealed  at  once  her  tragic 
fate.  At  the  sight  of  the  two  colored  young  men  the 
mother  shrieked  for  help  louder  than  ever,  and  people 
began  to  rush  towards  the  grove  from  every  side. 

"  Go  for  a  doctor  quick,  Walter.  Hurry,"  shouted 
Nafti.  The  black  youth,  with  a  frightened  look  on  his 
face,  rushed  towards  town.  Meanwhile,  Nafti  knelt  by 
the  side  of  the  stricken  woman,  whom  he  recognized  as 
Mrs.  "Wiley,  the  mother  of  the  little  girl,  Flossie  Wiley, 
who  lived  in  a  cottage  on  the  other  side  of  the  grove. 
He  noticed  a  cord  around  the  child's  neck  and  cut  it  at 
once.  His  own  heart  bled  for  the  widowed  mother  in 
the  hour  of  her  agony  worse  than  the  throes  of  death. 
A  great  fear  clutched  him  that  a  dread  horror  had  been 
committed  by  some  bedeviled  member  of  his  own  race, 
which  would  brand  anew  with  infamy  every  black  man 

154 


THE  DREADED  HORROR  155 

in  Dothan,  and  bring  the  vilest  reproach  on  Harbison  also. 

A  crowd  quickly  gathered.  They  pushed  Nafti 
Thomas  aside  in  contempt,  some  of  them  recognizing 
him,  while  kind  hands  lifted  the  helpless  girl  and  carried 
her  to  her  home,  the  screaming  mother  following  behind. 
A  doctor  soon  arrived  and  began  an  examination. 

"  There  is  a  slight  possibility  that  the  child  may  live," 
he  told  the  two  or  three  neighbors  who  were  permitted 
to  remain  in  the  cottage.  "  She  has  evidently  been  al- 
most choked  to  death,"  he  continued,  pointing  to  the 
cruel  marks  of  the  cord  on  the  slender  neck. 

An  opiate  deadened  for  a  little  while  the  mother's 
agony,  and  enabled  the  doctor  to  minister  tenderly  to 
the  injured  child  without  the  wild  shrieks  and  constant 
interference  of  the  utterly  unnerved  woman. 

Meanwhile,  another  tragedy  was  happening  in  the  lit- 
tle grove.  Some  of  those  rushing  to  the  assistance  of 
the  woman  at  the  sound  of  her  first  cries  for  help,  saw 
the  black  youth,  Walter  Wilkins,  rush  from  the  grove 
without  a  hat  and  a  startled  look  on  his  face. 

"  Catch  him,  catch  him,"  someone  shouted,  and  a  num- 
ber of  the  men  set  off  in  pursuit. 

Seeing  that  he  was  being  pursued  the  youth,  who  had 
only  come  from  the  country  a  short  time  before  to  enter, 
Harbison  Institute,  lost  his  presence  of  mind,  and  dashed 
madly  down  a  side  street.  The  mob  at  his  heels  gained 
on  him  and,  at  last,  as  he  was  trying  to  get  through  a 
fence,  they  came  up  and  seized  him  roughly. 

"  You  black  devil,  come  back  with  us,"  cried  one  of 
the  mob.  They  began  to  lead  the  now  thoroughly  fright- 
ened negro  youth  back  to  the  grove. 

"  I  didn't  do  it,  I  didn't  do  it,"  cried  the  black  pris- 
oner, as  they  hurried  him  along,  some  striking  him  over 
the  face  and  head.    They  soon  reached  the  grove.    By 


156  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

this  time  the  injured  child  and  her  mother  had  been  re- 
moved and  a  crowd  was  standing,  as  in  a  stupor,  look- 
ing at  the  place  where  the  dark  crime  was  enacted. 

"  We  have  him.  We  caught  the  black  brute,"  yelled 
the  captors  of  Walter  Wilkins,  hurrying  forward  with 
their  prisoner. 

With  a  hoarse  shout  the  crowd  in  the  grove  awoke 
to  life  and  vengeance.  "  Lynch  him.  Shoot  him. 
Burn  him,"  they  yelled  in  fierce,  guttural  tones.  Nafti 
Thomas,  who  had  remained  behind  when  they  took  the 
child  and  her  mother  away,  was  the  only  black  man 
amongst  them.  At  the  knowledge  of  the  nature  of  the 
crime  every  negro  sought  refuge  instinctively,  and  the 
Harbison  students,  who  were  rushing  out  of  the  grounds, 
returned  with  quick,  silent  tread.  Nafti  had  also  decided 
to  make  his  way  at  once  back  to  the  school  when,  to  his 
horror,  he  saw  Walter  Wilkins  in  the  clutch  of  the  mob. 
The  unfortunate  negro  student  was  already  a  pitiful 
sight.  His  face  was  covered  with  blood  from  the  blows 
he  had  received;  his  eyes  were  staring  wildly;  his  teeth 
were  chattering,  and  he  was  helpless  from  fright.  At 
the  sight  of  Nafti  Thomas  he  gave  a  cry  of  despair. 
"  Save  me,  Nafti.  Save  me,"  he  cried,  stretching  out 
his  hands  to  his  fellow-student.  With  one  bound  Nafti 
Thomas  was  at  his  side.  "  He  is  innocent,"  he  shouted 
aloud.  "  Let  him  go.  He  is  one  of  the  students  at 
Harbison." 

"  Lynch  both  the  niggers,"  was  the  fierce  answer  of 
the  now  insane  mob,  which  was  thirsting  for  negro  blood. 
Only  an  accident  saved  Nafti  from  an  awful  fate. 
Someone,  reaching  for  him,  knocked  off  his  large  straw 
hat,  which  had  almost  hidden  his  face,  and  a  big,  burly 
member  of  the  mob  recognized  him  and  shouted  out, 
"  That's  Mose  Thomas's  boy.    Let  him  go." 


THE  DREADED  HORROR  157 

"  Lynch  him,  lynch  him ;  shoot  every  black  devil  in 
sight,"  yelled  a  brutal-looking  fellow,  making  a  dash  at 
Nafti.  The  big,  burly  fellow,  who  had  recognized 
Nafti,  rushed  forward  and,  with  one  blow,  knocked  the! 
man  down,  saying  to  Nafti,  "  Run  for  your  life."  Nafti 
continued  to  plead  for  his  fellow-student,  but  his  friend 
caught  him  and  dragged  him  to  the  outskirts  of  the 
crowd.  Seeing  his  own  efforts  vain,  Nafti  rushed  to 
Harbison  to  get  assistance. 

Meanwhile,  the  mad  mob  proceeded  quickly  with  its 
terrible  work.  They  dragged  the  now  half -conscious 
Wilkins  to  the  foot  of  a  tree.  Someone  climbed  up  and, 
from  the  first  limb,  caught  the  end  of  a  rope  which  had 
already  been  fastened  around  the  black's  neck.  They 
held  the  struggling  victim  about  two  feet  from  the 
ground  while  the  rope  was  being  tied  to  the  tree.  He 
was  then  turned  loose  and  hung  dangling,  his  feet  only 
a  short  distance  above  the  grass  below.  The  mob 
stepped  back  a  few  paces  and  a  number  opened  fire,  and 
the  dead  body  of  Walter  Wilkins,  pierced  with  a  dozen 
bullets,  hung  swinging  on  the  rope. 

Its  lust  for  blood  satisfied,  the  mob  at  once  dispersed, 
leaving  the  mute  evidence  of  its  savagery  in  the  grove. 

A  few  minutes  later  Dr.  Furber,  Rose  Atkinson,  and 
Nafti  rushed  from  the  Harbison  gate.  Seeing  the  mob 
melting  away  in  silence,  Nafti  guessed  the  worst. 

"  We're  too  late,"  he  exclaimed,  bursting  into  tears. 
"  They  have  killed  him." 

Without  a  word,  Dr.  Furber  and  Rose  hurried  into 
the  grove.  The  few  members  of  the  mob  who  passed 
them  hurled  insults  at  the  old,  gray-haired  man,  and  the 
beautiful  young  Northerner,  but  they  paid  no  heed. 

Arriving  at  the  scene  of  the  double  outrage,  they 
found  the  bleeding  body  of  the  hapless  student,  dangling 


158  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

from  the  tree.  At  the  awful  sight,  Rose  Atkinson  gave 
a  cry  of  horror,  and  sank  helpless  to  the  ground.  With 
tears  flowing  from  their  eyes,  Dr.  Furber  and  Nafti  has- 
tened to  cut  down  the  body.  With  a  deep  groan,  Nafti 
shouldered  the  bloody  corpse  of  his  young  companion 
and  strode  back  to  the  Institute.  Dr.  Furber  assisted 
Rose  Atkinson  to  rise  and  with  trembling  steps  they  fol- 
lowed. 

In  awe-struck  silence  the  students  gathered  in  little 
groups  near  the  buildings.  Two  or  three  came  hurry- 
ing forward  to  assist  Nafti  with  his  bloody  burden,  but 
he  shook  his  head  and  passed  on.  The  students  fell  in 
behind,  and  the  mournful  procession  filed  up  to  the  boys' 
dormitory. 

The  news  of  the  crime  and  the  subsequent  lynching 
spread  over  the  town  like  an  explosion.  It  was  the  one 
topic  of  conversation.  White  mothers  folded  their 
daughters  in  their  arms,  looked  into  their  faces,  and 
wept.  Only  those  who  live  at  a  distance  and  have  never 
experienced  the  daily  and  hourly  terror  of  the  dread 
horror  can  think  of  such  scenes  dispassionately. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  colored  mothers  brought  their 
little  sons  inside  their  cabins,  put  their  arms  around 
them  and  began  to  pray. 

But  there  was  one  man  in  Dothan  who  could  hardly 
restrain  his  joy  that  day.  Peter  Legree  heard  of  the 
crime  in  the  grove  near  Harbison,  and  the  lynching  of 
the  Harbison  student,  with  emotions  of  delight. 

"  I'll  soon  drive  that  meddling  Yankee  teacher  out  of 
Dothan  now,"  he  hissed.  "  That's  the  best  streak  of  luck 
Legree  has  had  in  many  a  day.  I  guess  that  will  stir  up 
the  whites  to  see  that  this  nigger  school  will  have  to  go." 

With  these  pleasing  reflections  regarding  the  influence 
of  the  dread  horror  on  his  own  personal  fortunes  as 


THE  DREADED  HORROR  159 

leader  of  the  whites  in  Dothan,  the  "  boss  "  dismissed  the 
matter  from  his  mind,  never  thinking  of  such  a  thing  as 
investigating  the  two  horrible  crimes  committed  against 
the  law  of  the  land. 

But  at  Harbison  Institute  there  was  an  incarnation 
of  the  old-time  ideas  of  justice.  Rose  Atkinson  soon  re- 
covered from  the  shock  of  seeing  the  swinging  body  of 
the  murdered  student,  and  she  determined  to  see  that 
the  double  crime  was  avenged,  and  the  guilty  brought 
to  justice.  She  telephoned  for  Donald  Shelby,  who  had 
just  returned  from  his  second  trip  to  New  York,  and 
the  young  lawyer  hurried  out  to  Dothan. 

"I  am  willing  to  spend  $10,000,"  said  Rose,  "  to  find 
the  guilty  monster  who  attacked  the  girl,  and  a  like 
amount  to  bring  to  justice  the  leaders  of  the  mob  which 
murdered  Walter  Wilkins." 

"  I  will  hire  detectives  at  once,"  answered  Donald, 
"  and  announce  a  five  thousand  dollar  reward  in  the  case 
of  the  assailant  of  the  injured  child,  but  I  dare  not  pro- 
ceed against  the  lynchers." 

"  Why  not  ?  "  asked  Rose,  with  open  eyes. 

"  There  were  some  of  our  best  citizens  in  the  mob. 
It  was  a  mistake.  I  have  already  heard  some  say  that 
they  regretted  it,  but  they  were  sure  the  negro  was  the 
guilty  man  when  they  lynched  him.  A  mob,  you  know, 
does  not  act  with  much  judgment." 

"  Then  why  allow  mob  rule  to  prevail  and  to  hang 
and  shoot  innocent  colored  youths  like  Walter  ?  "  asked 
Rose,  with  tear-filled  eyes.  "  I  expect  that  many  of  the 
lynchings  in  the  South  are  just  such  wanton  murders 
as  this  has  been." 

Donald  made  no  reply.  He  knew  that,  as  a  North- 
erner, Rose  Atkinson  could  not  understand  the  psychol- 
ogy of  negro  lynching  in  the  Southland. 


160  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"Is  there  no  such  thing  as  justice  then?"  she  asked 
again ;  "  one  of  our  students  has  been  foully  murdered 
and  the  law  ought  to  demand  a  vindication." 

"  Such  a  thing  is  impossible,"  replied  Donald,  seri- 
ously. "  Whether  the  members  of  that  mob  were  really 
murderers  or  not  will  have  to  be  decided  at  God's  judg- 
ment." 

"  In  that  case,"  answered  the  girl,  "  I  tremble  for  my 
country,  for  God's  judgments  begin  on  earth,  as  we 
already  know  so  well  by  the  experience  of  the  last  fifty 
years  of  our  own  history.  If  the  lynchers  are  above  all 
law  in  Dothan,  begin  at  once  every  possible  effort  to  bring 
the  inhuman  assailant  of  the  child  to  the  bar  of  justice. 
Such  crimes  must  be  avenged  by  law." 

After  concluding  this  consultation  with  the  young 
lawyer,  Rose  Atkinson  hastened  to  the  cottage  where 
the  broken-hearted  mother,  and  the  injured  child  were. 
A  youth  of  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  a  brother  of 
the  little  girl,  met  her  at  the  door  and  ushered  her  in- 
side. She  found  both  of  the  sufferers  still  unconscious. 
A  few  neighbors,  of  the  poorest  sort,  were  consulting 
together  in  hushed  whispers  when  Rose  joined  them. 

"  Is  there  anyone  in  charge  here  ?  "  she  inquired. 

"  No,"  replied  one  of  the  women,  a  little  older  than 
the  rest.  "  We  were  just  saying  that  poor  Mrs.  Wiley 
ought  to  have  some  help  for  a  few  days.  She  needs  a 
nurse,  but  it  is  so  expensive." 

"  I  will  telegraph  at  once  to  Montgomery  for  a  trained 
nurse,"  responded  Rose.  "  She  will  be  able  to  take  full 
charge.  I  fear  the  mother  will  be  helpless  for  some 
time." 

"  The  doctor  said  the  shock  had  almost  killed  her," 
replied  another  of  the  women,  and  then  she  added,  sadly, 
"  Poor  Flossie.     She  was  such  a  nice  girl."    Just  then 


THE  DREADED  HORROR  161 

the  little  girl  began  to  move  in  her  bed.  She  threw  off 
the  cover  and  seemed  to  be  fighting  someone.  At  last, 
she  broke  out  in  a  wild  cry,  "  Mamma,  mamma,  he's  kill- 
ing me,  mamma." 

Rose  sat  down  by  the  side  of  the  bed,  and  sought  to 
soothe  away  the  child's  delirium.  In  a  little  while  she 
sank  back  again  into  slumber. 

During  Flossie's  struggles,  the  mother  moaned  on  her 
bed,  and  opened  her  eyes  wearily.  "  Did  Flossie  cry  ?  " 
she  whispered,  and  then  closed  her  eyes  again,  the 
effect  of  the  doctor's  opiate  overcoming  her. 

"  I  will  stay  here  until  the  nurse  arrives,"  said  Rose, 
finally,  arising  and  taking  off  her  hat.  Getting  some 
paper  she  wrote  a  telegram  to  Montgomery,  asking  for 
a  nurse  to  be  sent  on  the  first  train,  and  dispatched  the 
boy  to  the  telegraph  office. 

Rose  Atkinson  spent  the  night  in  the  little  cottage, 
although  some  of  the  neighbor  women  offered  to  re- 
lieve her,  but  she  well  knew  they  had  their  own  families 
to  look  after,  and  so  she  sent  them  home. 

When  the  doctor  arrived  the  next  morning  he  found 
the  mother  rapidly  recovering  from  the  shock,  but  the 
little  girl  had  suffered  delirium  after  delirium  during 
the  night,  and  her  pulse  was  very  weak.  He  shook  his 
head  sadly  and  remarked  to  Rose,  "  I  do  not  think  she 
can  possibly  recover." 

The  nurse  reached  Dothan  that  day,  and  at  once  took 
charge,  keeping  the  mother  in  bed  as  long  as  she  could. 

With  a  weary  heart  Rose  returned  to  Harbison.  She 
found  that  Dr.  Furber  had  completed  arrangements  for 
Walter  Wilkins's  funeral,  which  was  to  be  held  in  the 
Chapel  that  afternoon.  His  parents  were  expected  early 
in  the  afternoon,  and  they  were  to  take  the  body  home 
with  them  for  burial  in  the  country. 


162  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  I  dread  to  meet  those  parents,"  said  Dr.  Furber  to 
Rose,  with  shaking  voice.  "  I  was  going  to  send  after 
you  if  you  had  not  come  back.  I  told  Mrs.  Furber  that 
this  sad  catastrophe  has  almost  unmanned  me.  I  am 
so  thankful  I  have  your  help,"  and  the  good  man  sat 
down  and,  bowing  his  head  in  his  hands,  relieved  his 
over-burdened  soul  by  weeping  aloud. 

"  Do  not  despair,  Dr.  Furber,"  replied  the  girl,  bravely. 
"  God  who  watches  the  sparrow  will  see  that  no  per- 
manent harm  comes  to  either  little  Flossie  or  Walter 
from  man's  devilish  cruelty.  Remember  what  Jesus 
said,  '  Fear  not  them  which  kill  the  body,  but  are  not 
able  to  kill  the  soul :  but  rather  fear  him  who  is  able  to 
destroy  both  soul  and  body  in  hell.'  I  have  known  girls 
in  Pittsburg,"  she  went  on,  slowly,  as  if  speaking  to 
herself,  "  who  have  met  a  more  cruel  fate  than  Flossie's, 
the  poor  slaves  of  lust,  defiled  in  both  soul  and  body." 

Then  she  turned  to  Dr.  Furber  and  exclaimed,  "  Let 
us  be  glad  that  Walter  died  an  innocent  Christian,  for 
we  know  it  is  well  with  his  soul." 

Her  brave  words  helped  to  cheer  the  disconsolate 
heart  of  the  President  of  Harbison,  but  his  sad  face  told 
Rose  that  the  dreadful  occurrences  of  the  previous  day 
had  made  a  tragic  wound  in  his  soul. 

When  the  parents  of  Walter  Wilkins  arrived  to  claim 
the  bullet-mangled  body  of  their  son,  even  Rose  Atkin- 
son entirely  lost  her  composure  and  broke  down.  Only 
a  short  time  before,  full  of  hope  for  his  future,  Walter 
had  left  them  to  go  to  school,  which  means  so  much 
to  a  negro.  What  a  pitiful  outcome  to  all  their  proud 
hopes.  The  agony  of  the  colored  mother,  and  the  tears 
and  cries  of  the  black  father  were  terrible  to  witness 
when  they  first  saw  the  body  of  their  boy.  One  of  the 
bullets  of  the  lynchers  had  struck  the  face  of  the  poor 


THE  DREADED  HORROR  163 

victim,  and  was  a  mute  evidence  of  the  frightful  death 
which  the  innocent  student  had  suffered.  At  the  funeral 
Dr.  Furber  gave  a  short,  broken  address,  and  Rose 
'Atkinson  sang  a  solo.  She  chose  the  familiar  hymn, 
"  Asleep  in  Jesus,"  and  a  heavenly  calm  settled  over  the 
agitated  audience  when  she  began, 

"Asleep  in  Jesus,  blessed  sleep, 
From  which  none  ever  wakes  to  weep; 
A  calm  and  undisturbed  repose, 
Unbroken  by  the  last  of  foes." 

When  she  had  finished  Nafti  Thomas  spoke,  at  Dr. 
Furber's  request.  In  simple  language  and  with  break- 
ing voice  he  related  the  incidents  of  the  dread  tragedy. 
"  My  comfort  to-day,"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  closed,  "  is 
that  Walter  Wilkins  was  innocent  of  the  crime  for  which 
he  was  murdered.  He  was  in  Harbison  for  only  a  short 
time,  but  we  all  recognize  that  he  was  a  Christian  boy. 
He  has  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus.  He  is  now  in  heaven 
where  God  draws  no  color  line,  and  where  he  need  fear 
wrongs  no  more." 

When  the  funeral  service  was  over,  six  students  acted 
as  pall-bearers  and  the  entire  school  followed  them  in 
a  long  procession  to  the  gate  where  the  wagon  of  the 
parents,  drawn  by  two  mules,  was  in  waiting.  Weeping 
aloud,  with  tears  coursing  down  their  cheeks,  the  heart- 
broken parents  drove  away. 

"  My  God,"  cried  Dr.  Furber,  as  he  watched  the 
wretched  father  wave  his  hands  in  agony  towards  the 
fatal  grove,  "  how  long,  O  Lord,  how  long?  " 


CHAPTER  XVII 

STARTLING  REVELATIONS 

Flossie  Wiley  lingered  between  life  and  death  for 
two  or  three  days.  Towards  the  end  she  became  con- 
scious, but  the  doctor  told  them  there  was  no  hope  for, 
recovery.  On  the  third  day,  as  the  doctor,  the  nurse, 
Rose  Atkinson,  and  her  mother  stood  around  her  bed- 
side, she  opened  her  eyes  suddenly  and  said  to  her 
mother,  "  Mamma,  the  men  who  hurt  me  were  not  black 
men."  The  mother,  not  knowing  what  was  in  the  child's 
mind,  looked  anxiously  at  her,  thinking  she  was  becom- 
ing delirious  again,  but  Rose  looked  into  the  quiet  eyes 
of  the  dying  girl,  and  inquired  eagerly,  "  What  were  the 
men  like  ?  " 

"  One  wore  ragged  overalls,  and  the  other  had  on  a 
blue  shirt,"  answered  the  girl,  looking  up  at  Rose.  "  I 
had  seen  them  before  out  near  here.  They  followed 
me. 

Here  the  doctor  asked  with  interest,  "  Was  one  of 
them  a  tall  fellow?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Flossie,  feebly.  "  It  was  the  tall  one 
who  put  the  cord  around  my  neck." 

"  I  know  those  men,"  said  the  doctor,  answering 
Rose's  look. 

Rose  hastened  to  summon  Donald  Shelby,  and  he  took 
down  a  deposition  from  the  dying  Flossie,  in  which  she! 
described  her  white  assailants. 

164 


STARTLING  REVELATIONS  165 

"  We  were  already  suspicious  of  those  two  men,"  said 
Donald  to  Rose,  after  he  had  taken  the  deposition,  which 
plainly  described  two  well-known  characters  of  the 
town.  "  Our  detectives  had  traced  them  out  to  this 
part  of  the  town  on  that  very  afternoon,  but  the  fact 
that  they  were  white  men,  and  not  black,  made  me  hesi- 
tate to  follow  up  the  clue,  as  we  always  fasten  such 
crimes  on  the  negroes." 

The  detectives  soon  arrested  the  two  men,  who  as- 
swered  to  Flossie's  description,  and  who  had  been  ob- 
served in  that  part  of  the  town  on  the  day  of  the  crime. 
They  found  the  men  in  one  of  Dothan's  low  dives  in 
which  whites  and  blacks  of  the  lowest  character  were 
mingling,  irrespective  of  any  color  line.  The  men 
proved  to  be  drunken  loafers,  henchmen  of  Legree,  one 
of  them  the  very  same  scoundrel  whom  Jefferson  Lilly 
had  wounded  with  his  revolver. 

They  were  confined  in  jail,  and  Donald  Shelby  was 
preparing  the  evidence  which  showed  a  complete  case 
against  them  when,  on  the  first  night  of  their  imprison- 
ment, they  made  their  escape. 

Donald  rightly  guessed  that  Legree  had  a  hand  in 
their  sudden  disappearance,  but  he  was  helpless  and  un- 
able to  continue  his  efforts  to  bring  the  brutal  whites  to 
justice.  Stories  were  started  that  Harbison  Institute 
was  trying  to  fasten  the  crime  on  white  men  to  protect 
the  school  from  the  just  wrath  of  the  whites,  and  a 
cloud  of  suspicion  continued  to  hang  over  the  good  name 
of  Walter  Wilkins. 

Flossie  lingered  almost  a  week,  and  then  one  evening, 
in  her  mother's  arms,  with  Rose  and  the  nurse  sitting 
by,  the  little  head  dropped  over  and  her  pure  spirit  had 
gone  out  into  the  unseen  world.  The  grief  of  the  poor 
mother  was  very  pitiful,  but  Rose  told  her  of  the  assur- 


166  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

ance  there  was  that  her  little  daughter  was  safe  in  her 
Saviour's  arms. 

Some  time  later  when  she  became  calmer,  the  mother 
thought  of  the  unfortunate  colored  student  who  had 
been  lynched  on  that  awful  day  of  her  own  tragedy,  and 
her  heart  went  out  to  the  bereaved  negroes  whose  boy 
had  died  in  such  a  shameful  way.  Of  her  own  accord 
she  had  a  statement  prepared  by  Donald  Shelby,  giving 
Flossie's  deposition,  exonerating  the  Harbison  student 
from  all  guilt,  and  charging  the  crime  on  the  two  white 
men  who  had  been  arrested,  and  who  had  broken  jail. 

This  statement  was  published  in  the  Dothan  Wasp, 
and  when  Legree  read  it  he  was  furious.  He  went  at 
once  to  the  Wasp  office  and  asked  to  see  the  editor. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir,"  he  exclaimed,  in  anger, 
"  accusing  white  men  of  a  nigger  crime  ?  " 

"  That  statement  is  true  beyond  a  doubt,"  answered 
the  editor  in  surprise. 

"What  do  I  care  for  the  truth,"  responded  the 
"  boss."  "  We  want  no  such  articles  as  that  printed  in 
this  town,  remember,"  and  the  master  of  Dothan  stalked 
out  of  the  office  in  a  towering  rage. 

But  the  fury  of  Legree  knew  no  bounds  when  Donald 
Shelby,  on  behalf  of  the  parents  of  Walter  Wilkins,  put 
in  a  claim  against  the  city  for  five  thousand  dollars  as 
damages  for  the  lynching  of  the  youth. 

This  suit  was  instituted  at  the  suggestion  of  Rose 
Atkinson,  and  she  had  to  plead  with  Donald  for  some 
time  before  he  dared  become  so  bold  as  to  defy  all  cus- 
tom in  this  way.  Such  a  suit  was  unheard  of  before 
in  Dothan.  Rose  did  not  imagine  that  Donald  could 
win  the  suit,  but  she  wished  the  case  brought  into  court 
in  some  way  in  order  that  the  evidence  which  the  de- 
tectives had  gathered  might  be  produced,  and  full  jus- 


STARTLING  REVELATIONS  167 

tice  done  openly  to  the  memory  of  the  murdered  stu- 
dent. 

By  filing  the  papers  in  the  suit  at  Montgomery  Donald 
compelled  a  legal  process,  as  the  case  would  at  once 
have  been  thrown  out  of  court  in  Dothan.  The  evi- 
dence clearly  proved  that  two  henchmen  of  Legree  were 
guilty  of  the  heinous  crime  for  which  Walter  Wilkins 
had  been  lynched.  The  escape  of  the  prisoners  from 
jail  was  denounced  unscathingly  by  Donald,  as  show- 
ing the  attitude  of  the  city  administration  in  the  case. 
The  result  of  the  suit  was  that  Legree's  power  was  seri- 
ously shaken,  as  many  respectable  whites  were  disgusted 
with  the  revelations.  To  the  surprise  of  all,  the  Court 
even  allowed  five  hundred  dollars  damages  to  the  be- 
reaved parents. 

After  little  Flossie's  death  Rose  Atkinson  continued 
to  visit  at  the  cottage  of  Mrs.  Wiley,  and  sought  to 
comfort  her  in  her  bitter  hour  of  suffering.  A  friend- 
ship grew  up  between  the  rich  young  teacher  and  the 
poor  woman,  and  Rose  found  that  Mrs.  Wiley  was  a 
woman  of  good  education  and  Christian  character,  but 
she  had  been  unfortunate  in  her  marriage  and  after 
the  sudden  death  of  her  dissolute  husband,  she  had  been 
left  in  precarious  circumstances.  Through  the  gener- 
osity of  Rose,  her  young  son  was  sent  to  an  Industrial 
Institute  for  white  boys  in  the  Northern  part  of  the 
State,  and  Mrs.  Wiley  came  to  Harbison  to  assist  Rose 
as  Matron  of  the  Girls'  Dormitory. 

The  sad  tragedy  of  Mrs.  Wiley's  life,  which  was 
known  to  all  the  negro  girls  in  Harbison,  gave  her  a 
peculiar  influence  over  them,  and  then  soon  made  her 
their  confidante.  One  day  two  of  the  girls  referred  to 
the  tragedy  which  had  robbed  her  of  Flossie,  and  con- 
fided the  startling  news  that  the  men  who  had  attacked 


168  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

her  daughter  had  been  the  terror  of  the  girls  at  the  In- 
stitute for  some  time. 

"  They  often  followed  us,  and  we  became  afraid  to  go 
out  alone,"  they  said. 

Mrs.  Wiley  spoke  of  this  matter  to  Rose  and  an  in- 
vestigation followed,  which  disclosed  an  alarming  state 
of  affairs.  Rose  laid  the  matter  before  Dr.  Furber,  and 
after  deliberation,  the  President  had  a  consultation  with 
Donald  Shelby.  Dr.  Furber  presented  evidence  which 
seemed  to  indicate  that  a  regular  conspiracy  existed, 
evidently  amongst  the  Legree  minions,  to  lead  the  young 
negro  girls  astray,  not  only  by  enticement,  but  by  force, 
if  necessary. 

"  This  horrible  thing  must  be  stopped,"  said  Dr.  Fur- 
ber, in  great  indignation.  "  These  men  who  are  at  the 
bottom  of  this  nefarious  business  are  the  very  creatures 
who  are  crying  out  loudest  in  public  against  a  mulatto 
American,  and  claiming  that  Harbison  threatens  such 
a  future  for  the  Southland,  while  all  the  time  their  own 
devilish  purpose  is  to  compel  every  young  negress  to 
become  the  mother  of  a  mulatto  child.  Something  must 
be  done.  White  and  black  together  are  being  demoral- 
ized." 

Donald  Shelby  looked  very  serious.  "  I  can  see  more 
clearly  every  day,"  he  responded  slowly,  "  that  Legree- 
ism  is  increasingly  tending  to  political  and  moral  rotten- 
ness in  Dothan,  but  we  must  arouse  the  people  to  the 
danger  cautiously,  for  Legree,  as  I  have  found,  is  as 
cunning  as  a  serpent     He  can  deceive  the  very  elect." 

"  I  have  also  learned  recently,"  continued  Dr.  Furber, 
with  increasing  anger,  "  that  frightful  conditions  exist 
in  some  of  our  large  cities." 

"  It  is  too  true,"  replied  Donald,  with  sadness.    "  We, 


STARTLING  REVELATIONS  169 

who  believe  in  morality  and  the  principles  of  Christian- 
ity, have  allowed  the  spirit  of  Legree  to  go  unchecked 
too  long.  In  Montgomery  alone  there  are  four  hun- 
dred colored  women  supported  by  white  men,  many  of 
them  prominent  business  men.  Rev.  J.  A.  Rice,  of  the 
Court  Street  M.  E.  Church  of  Montgomery,  has  made 
that  assertion  in  public,  and  no  one  has  ever  contra- 
dicted him.  The  worst  thing  is  that  these  women,  living 
in  this  concubinage  are  often  received  in  the  negro 
churches  and  among  the  negroes  generally  with  honor. 
The  moral  result  on  the  black  race  is  indescribable." 

"  How  long  are  the  Christian  people  of  Alabama  go- 
ing to  submit  to  this  kind  of  thing,"  exclaimed  Dr.  Fur- 
ber,  with  a  look  of  despair. 

"  The  whole  State  is  already  aroused,"  said  Donald, 
encouragingly.  "  The  better  classes,  not  only  in  Ala- 
bama, but  all  over  the  South,  have  begun  to  organize  to 
fight  this  concubinage  system.  It  is  the  direct  product 
of  Legreeism." 

"  I  am  only  beginning,"  responded  Dr.  Furber,  "  to 
see  the  iniquity  of  the  Legree  spirit.  I  have  always 
known  it  was  a  bad  influence,  but  I  never  suspected  its 
hidden  depths  of  iniquity.  Such  men  as  Legree  seem 
to  honor  any  white  man  who  will  degrade  and  debauch 
the  negro  race,  but  they  revile  and  persecute  with  savage 
fury  any  white  man  who  seeks  to  lift  up  and  educate 
this  backward  people." 

"  It  is  exactly  so,"  said  Donald,  "  but  I  wish  to  assure 
you  that  the  Legree  faction  is  really  a  small,  tyrannical 
minority,  who  have  used  race  hatred  as  a  means  of  po- 
litical and  financial  aggrandizement.  They  are  the  mod- 
ern carpetbaggers,  willing  to  sink  the  whole  South  in 
a  hell  of  debauchery  in  order  to  gain  for  themselves 


170  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

power  and  ill-gotten  wealth.  But  the  day  of  Legree's 
doom  is  at  hand,"  concluded  Donald,  with  great  earnest- 
ness, striking  his  desk  a  resounding  blow  with  his 
clenched  fist. 

"  I  surely  hope  so,"  responded  the  President  of  Har- 
bison. 

"  We  are  planning  to  elect  a  complete  new  set  of 
officers  at  our  next  city  election,"  the  young  lawyer  con- 
tinued. "  There  is  going  to  be  a  shaking  up  in  Dothan. 
Our  day  is  about  to  dawn  as  a  community." 

"  Harbison's  day  will  dawn  at  the  same  time,"  re- 
joined Dr.  Furber.  "  I  have  been  discouraged  some- 
what about  our  work  in  spite  of  Miss  Atkinson's  opti- 
mism," he  continued,  laying  his  head  wearily  on  his  hand. 
"  I  have  almost  felt  recently  like  Mr.  J.  Ormond  Wil- 
son, of  Washington.  Someone  asked  him  if  he  had 
read  Dr.  Shufeldt's  late  book  on  '  The  American 
Negro,'  and  he  replied,  in  despair,  '  I  don't  read  any- 
body's books  on  the  negro  question  any  more.  It  seems 
to  be  a  hopeless  case.'  However,  your  words,  Mr. 
Shelby,  have  encouraged  me.  When  I  can  see  some 
evidence  that  the  white  men  of  the  South  are  getting 
ready  to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  Legree  and  men  like  him 
I  am  encouraged  to  hope  for  the  future." 

When  their  consultation  was  over,  it  was  near  supper 
time,  and  Dr.  Furber  prevailed  on  his  friend  to  stay  for 
supper  at  Harbison.  Mrs.  Furber,  a  genial,  kindly  lady, 
and  Rose  Atkinson,  were  the  only  other  members  of  the 
family  present.  They  had  a  most  enjoyable  time,  and 
as  the  evening  progressed  even  Dr.  Furber  became  more 
cheerful,  and  seemed  for  a  time  to  forget  the  heavy  bur- 
dens he  was  carrying  on  behalf  of  others. 

After  a  while  Rose  and  Donald  were  left  alone  in  the 
parlor  of  the  President's  house,  and  he  told  Rose  the 


STARTLING  REVELATIONS  171 

whole  story  of  Jefferson  Lilly's  plight,  including  the  in- 
cident of  the  telegram  from  Florence  Ashley  to  New 
York. 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Lilly  now  ?  "  asked  Rose  at  last,  with 
an  eagerness  that  made  Donald  wince  a  little. 

"  He  has  been  visiting  friends  in  the  Northern  part 
of  Alabama,  but  he  has  told  me  that  he  expects  to  take 
a  trip  to  the  North  soon.  When  he  comes  back  he  hopes 
to  revisit  Dothan." 

"  I  am  going  North  myself  next  week,"  said  Rose,  un- 
expectedly.    Donald  looked  surprised. 

"  Yes,"  she  went  on,  answering  his  questioning  look. 
"  I  have  felt  that  I  must  get  a  breath  of  the  Pittsburg 
air.  They  say  it  is  smoky,  but  it  is  pure  as  the  air  of 
paradise  compared  with  the  present  Legree-cursed  at- 
mosphere of  Dothan." 

"  Don't  be  too  severe  on  us,"  answered  the  young 
man.  "  With  the  exception  of  a  very  few,  you  know 
we  have  given  you  a  very  good  reception  in  our  town. 
By  the  way,  I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  I  met  a  young  man 
on  the  train  some  time  ago  who  knew  you.  His  name 
was  Horace  Speedwell.  He  wanted  to  be  remembered 
to  you,  and  said  he  was  going  to  look  you  up  in  Dothan 
some  day." 

"  Horace  Speedwell,"  exclaimed  Rose,  in  astonish- 
ment.    "What  did  he  say?" 

"  He  wanted  to  know  how  we  were  treating  you  in 
Alabama,  and  he  vowed  vengeance  if  any  negro-hater 
insulted  you,  but  I  think,  at  heart,  he  was  wishing  we 
would  drive  you  back  to  Pittsburg." 

Rose  blushed.  "  I  have  known  him  all  my  life,"  she 
explained.  "  We  were  children  together,  and  grew  up 
as  firm  friends." 

"  So  he  told  me,"  said  Donald.     "  He  seemed  to  think 


172  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

you  were  throwing  your  life  away  in  your  project  to 
help  the  blacks." 

"  Horace  cannot  understand,"  responded  the  girl,  with 
a  far-away  look  in  her  eyes.  "  So  few  of  my  friends 
can  understand  my  motives,  and  yet,  in  the  light  of 
the  teachings  of  the  New  Testament,  there  is  nothing 
wonderful  at  all  about  my  plans  for  a  life  work." 

"  I  don't  think  many  people  take  those  teachings  as 
altogether  practical  in  our  day,"  responded  Donald,  in 
an  apologetic  manner. 

"  That's  just  the  trouble,"  she  replied,  quickly.  "  Men 
will  call  Christianity  a  failure  individually  and  collect- 
ively, when  the  truth  of  the  matter  is  Christianity  is 
never  given  a  chance,  except  in  occasional  cases,  to  show 
what  it  can  do  to  brighten  the  life,  and  uplift  mankind." 

"  You're  a  regular  preacher,"  said  Donald,  laughing. 
"  I  don't  think  I  ever  heard  Mr.  Durham  utter  finer 
sentiments  than  those." 

"  Did  anyone  ever  speak  to  you  about  Rev.  John  Dur- 
ham's visit  here  while  you  were  away,  and  how  I  an- 
swered him  right  in  the  church?"  Rose  smiled  broadly 
as  she  asked  Donald  this  question. 

Donald  roared  with  laughter.  "  I  should  say  I  did 
hear  about  that.  I  heard  that  you  just  wiped  the  earth 
with  the  old  Hambright  parson.     That  was  a  great  joke." 

"  It  would  have  been  ridiculous,  if  it  had  not  been  so 
deplorable,"  answered  Rose,  growing  more  serious.  "  I 
hardly  knew  whether  to  laugh  or  cry  during  his  ha- 
rangue, but  I  could  not  help  saying  a  word  in  reply." 

"  I  hear  that  Legree  was  angry  enough  at  you  to  eat 
you  up  alive,"  said  Donald,  still  laughing.  "  He  swore 
terribly  down  town  the  next  day,  I  am  told,  when  some- 
one  asked   him   what   he   thought  of   your   talk.     He 


STARTLING  REVELATIONS  17S 

blames  Mr.  Durham  for  permitting  it,  and  says  the 
Bible  plainly  says  that  women  are  not  to  speak  in 
churches." 

"  Ha,  ha,"  laughed  Rose.  "  So  I  aroused  Legree  to 
such  an  extent  that  he  quoted  Scripture,  but  we  are  told 
the  devil  has  been  known  to  do  that  before." 

"  I  also  heard,"  went  on  Donald,  "  that  the  Hambright 
brother  was  so  incensed  at  our  pastor  that  he  left  for 
North  Carolina  the  very  next  evening.  I  saw  him  in 
Legree's  office  that  afternoon.  I  expect  he  was  bidding 
him  a  fond  farewell." 

"  Legree  and  John  Durham  of  Hambright  are  kindred 
spirits,"  said  Rose,  with  a  sparkle  of  indignation  in  her 
eyes.  "  The  idea  of  such  men  pretending  to  exhibit 
Christianity  in  any  way.  If  they  are  Christians,  we 
do  wrong  in  failing  to  honor  Herod  in  the  Christian 
Church." 

The  conversation  then  changed  to  Donald's  New  York 
experiences,  and  the  young  couple  did  not  notice  the 
time  fly  until  it  was  after  ten  o'clock.  "  I  must  be 
going,"  said  Donald,  rising. 

Rose  accompanied  him  as  far  as  the  gate  at  the  end 
of  the  main  avenue.  "  If  I  do  not  see  you  again  before 
I  leave  for  the  North,  I  will  bid  you  good-by,  Mr. 
Shelby,"  said  the  girl,  as  they  were  parting.  "  I  want 
to  thank  you  for  the  friendship  you  have  shown  to 
Harbison." 

"  Don't  mention  it,"  he  replied.  "  I  see  that  I  have 
not  done  my  duty  by  this  institution  in  the  past,  but  you 
have  aroused  many  of  us  in  Dothan  to  a  new  under- 
standing of  the  importance  of  this  school." 

"  My  hopes  have  not  all  been  realized,"  answered  the 
girl,  with  a  sigh,  "  but  I  believe  a  start  has  been  made. 


174  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

After  a  good  rest  at  home  I  am  coming  back  again,  and 
we  will  endeavor  to  work  out  to  completion  my  policy  for 
Harbison's  success." 

"  You  can  always  count  on  me,"  said  Donald,  ear- 
nestly. 

"  I  have  tested  your  friendship  and  have  not  found 
it  wanting,"  responded  the  girl,  simply. 

"  Test  my  love  now  and  you  will  find  it  just  as  true 
as  my  friendship."  Donald  Shelby  looked  into  the  face 
of  the  beautiful  teacher  of  Harbison  as  he  spoke  these 
words.  Overhead  the  moon  was  shining  with  a  soft 
radiance.  A  quiet  stillness  brooded  over  nature,  save 
that  a  gentle  zepher  kissed  the  leaves  in  a  soft  caress. 

"  I  mean  it  every  word,"  protested  the  young  lawyer, 
as  Rose  looked  at  him  in  surprise. 

"  I  am  not  yet  ready  for  such  a  test,"  she  replied,  at 
length,  reaching  out  her  hand,  "  but  — " 

"  Some  day  you  may  be,"  finished  Donald  eagerly,  as 
she  hesitated. 

"  Perhaps,"  she  answered,  softly,  and  she  was  gone. 

"  Jefferson  Lilly  was  right  in  his  estimation  of  Rose 
Atkinson,"  said  Donald  to  himself,  as  he  walked  home 
slowly  in  the  moonlight.  "  She  is  a  woman.  Hers  is  a 
beautiful  soul  in  a  beautiful  form." 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

THE   CRISIS   OF   A   LIFE 

"  Miss  Atkinson,  how  delighted  I  am  to  see  you." 

"Why,  Mr.  Lilly,  where  did  you  come  from?" 

"  I  arrived  here  yesterday,  and  I  thought  I  would 
spend  this  afternoon  in  visiting  the  magnificent  depart- 
ment stores  of  this  wonderful  city." 

This  conversation  took  place  one  afternoon  in  the 
book  department  of  one  of  the  immense  retail  stores, 
which  are  the  pride  of  Pittsburg. 

Jefferson  Lilly,  taking  a  trip  leisurely  through  the 
Northern  cities,  had  stopped  off  for  a  few  days  in  the 
Iron  City,  and  thus  unexpectedly  met  Rose  Atkinson, 
who  was  now  enjoying  a  few  weeks'  vacation  at  her 
Pittsburg  home. 

11 1  would  like  to  have  you  come  home  with  me  to 
supper  to-night,"  said  the  girl,  after  the  first  greetings 
were  over.  "  We  are  to  have  a  company  of  prominent 
people  who  are  much  interested  in  the  great  problem 
of  the  South.  It  will  be  delightful  to  have  you  with 
us.  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie  is  coming  over  from  New 
York  to  be  with  us." 

Jefferson  accepted  the  invitation  with  pleasure,  and 
assured  Rose  that  he  had  no  engagements  of  any  kind. 

"  Come  right  along  with  me  now,"  urged  the  girl. 
"  We  can  have  an  automobile  ride  around  the  city,  and 
I  can  tell  you  some  of  the  happenings  in  Dothan  since 
you  left  it." 

175 


176  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  I  didn't  leave  Dothan,"  answered  the  other,  with  a 
broad  grin  on  his  face.  "  I  was  dragged  out  of  the 
town  as  though  I  had  been  a  dangerous  criminal." 

"  Mr.  Shelby  told  me  all  about  your  cruel  experiences, 
Mr.  Lilly,"  she  responded,  sympathetically.  "  It  was 
awful,  but  I  see  you  are  not  much  the  worse  for  it." 

"  I  have  been  recuperating  for  some  time,  and  this 
bracing  air  of  the  North  soon  puts  color  in  the  cheeks." 

Driven  by  an  expert  chauffeur,  they  were  whirled 
around  the  "  Smoky  City,"  as  Pittsburg  has  been 
called.  They  passed  along  the  banks  of  the  Mononga- 
hela  River,  which  at  this  point  joins  with  the  Allegheny 
to  form  the  noble  Ohio.  Rose  pointed  out  the  mag- 
nificent Carnegie  Institute  and  the  other  notable  build- 
ings. 

"  Pittsburg  is  a  splendid  city,"  exclaimed  Rose,  with 
sparkling  eyes.  "  I  feel  at  home  here.  It  is  a  pleasure 
for  me  to  see  it  again.     I  enjoy  even  its  smoke." 

"  How  could  you  leave  a  city  like  this,  with  all  its 
attractions,  for  a  little  Alabama  town  like  Dothan  with 
its  ugly  problems  ?  " 

"  Pittsburg  does  not  need  me  and  Dothan  does," 
she  answered,  quietly.  She  then  told  Jefferson  the  news 
about  the  lynching  of  Walter  Wilkins  and  the  good  work 
of  Donald  Shelby  on  behalf  of  the  Institute. 

"  Donald  is  like  his  old  self  again,"  said  Jefferson, 
enthusiatically.  "  In  college  he  was  fearless  as  a  Spar- 
tan soldier,  but  when  I  saw  him  first  in  Dothan  he 
was  as  spiritless  as  a  donkey.  I  believe  you  recharged 
him  with  life,  Miss  Atkinson." 

The  girl  blushed  a  rosy  red,  and  replied,  "  I'm  not  an 
electric  battery." 

"  That  is  our  home,"  she  exclaimed  suddenly,  as  the 


THE  CRISIS  OF  'A  LIFE  177 

motor  car  shot  round  a  corner,  and  a  magnificent  man- 
sion on  the  hillside  came  into  view. 

The  location  of  the  home  was  superb,  commanding 
a  wide  prospect,  and  overlooking  a  wooded  valley  below. 

The  powerful  car  rushed  swiftly  up  the  long  avenue, 
which  was  lined  with  beautiful  shade  trees,  and  stopped 
in  front  of  the  marble  steps. 

Rose  soon  ushered  Jefferson  into  her  palatial  home, 
and  introduced  him  to  her  mother,  a  fine  looking  lady 
of  noble  bearing,  and  when  it  was  explained  that  they 
had  met  in  Dothan,  he  was  cordially  welcomed. 

He  also  met  George  Atkinson,  a  brother  of  Rose,  who 
was  some  two  or  three  years  younger  than  his  sister. 

The  other  guests  had  not  yet  arrived,  and  so  Jeffer- 
son had  a  good  opportunity  to  get  acquainted  with  the 
family.  He  found  that  the  mother  and  brother  were 
kindred  spirits  to  Rose,  but  they  seemed  to  lack  her 
intensity  of  self-sacrifice.  He  found  them  greatly  in- 
terested in  Alabama  on  account  of  Rose's  experiences  in 
that  State. 

"  Since  Rose  has  been  talking  so  much  of  the  beauties 
of  Alabama  I  have  been  thinking  of  going  into  business 
myself  in  Birmingham,"  said  George  Atkinson.  "  I  have 
had  a  good  offer  from  an  iron  firm  there  recently." 

"  Birmingham  is  the  Pittsburg  of  the  South,  and 
is  destined  to  a  great  future,"  said  Jefferson,  with  en- 
thusiasm. "  Go  down  and  investigate  it  for  yourself. 
You  will  find  it  is  full  of  business  opportunities." 

"  Rose  seems  to  think  that  duty  calls  her  to  Alabama," 
said  Mrs.  Atkinson,  "  but  I  tell  her  she  ought  to  let  the 
South  take  care  of  its  own  negroes.  I  am  afraid  she  is 
finding  the  work  in  Harbison  rather  perplexing.  She 
came  home  all  tired  out." 


178  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  She  is  making  a  great  success  of  the  school,"  re- 
plied Jefferson,  enthusiastically.  "  She  has  the  right 
ideas  of  negro  education,  and  her  influence  will  yet  be 
felt  all  over  the  Southland.  I  have  been  studying  our 
problem  with  new  interest  for  myself  this  summer,  and 
I  am  convinced  your  daughter  is  teaching  the  Dothan 
whites  how  to  properly  solve  the  delicate  race  problem." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  so,"  responded  Rose's 
mother.  "  I  was  afraid  the  girl  was  merely  throwing 
her  life  away." 

"  If  you  are  interested  in  the  negro  question,"  laughed 
George,  "  you  will  meet  some  kindred  spirits  to-night. 
About  every  influential  friend  of  the  negro  is  to  be  here. 
We  will  have  a  large  company." 

"  It  will  be  a  great  pleasure  for  me  to  meet  these 
Northern  friends  of  our  colored  race,"  replied  Jeffer- 
son. 

The  guests  soon  began  to  arrive.  They  included  men 
and  women  from  all  walks  of  life,  from  millionaires 
like  Andrew  Carnegie  down  to  Ward  School  teachers. 
Well  known  business  men,  bankers,  lawyers,  and  minis- 
ters were  also  present. 

Jefferson  became  greatly  interested  in  one  of  the  min- 
isters to  whom  Rose  introduced  him  while  the  guests 
were  gathering.  He  was  a  scholarly  gentleman,  whom 
he  found  to  be  an  authority  on  almost  any  question  in 
regard  to  the  negro  race.  His  name  was  Dr.  Fisher, 
and  when  Rose  introduced  him  she  remarked,  "  I  want 
you  to  meet  my  friend,  Dr.  Fisher.  He  has  charge  of 
the  organization  which  oversees  Harbison,  and  twenty 
other  such  schools  in  different  parts  of  the  South." 

Dr.  Fisher  and  Jefferson  wandered  into  the  library 
before  the  supper  was  served. 


THE  CRISIS  OF  A  LIFE  179 

"  What  is  your  business  in  Alabama  ? "  Dr.  Fisher 
asked  the  young  man. 

Jefferson  smiled  depreciatingly  and  replied,  "  Wan- 
dering to  and  fro  upon  the  face  of  the  earth." 

Dr.  Fisher  looked  at  him  earnestly  and  said,  "  You 
are  of  too  good  metal,  my  young  friend,  to  rust  out  your 
life  in  any  such  a  useless  way  as  that.  Why  don't  you 
allow  me  to  set  you  to  work  ?  " 

"What  would  you  have  me  do?"  asked  the  aston- 
ished Jefferson. 

"  I  would  commission  you  as  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
of  Harbison  Institute  and  send  you  to  Dothan  to  assist 
Rose  Atkinson  in  making  that  school  a  model  for  all 
similar  schools  to  pattern  after.  We  are  just  now  in 
need  of  a  Secretary  and  Treasurer  for  that  institution." 

"  Your  proposition  is  unexpected,  sir,"  he  answered, 
"  but  it  has  interested  me.  I  will  call  at  your  office  to- 
morrow and  talk  with  you  about  the  matter." 

At  the  supper  table,  a  little  later,  Jefferson  had  a 
good  opportunity  to  see  a  large  and  representative  com- 
pany of  the  Northern  philanthropists  whom  many  South- 
erners look  upon  as  their  worst  enemies  because  of  their 
efforts  to  uplift  the  blacks  of  the  Southland.  He  soon 
saw  that  these  philanthropists  were  interested  in  the 
negroes,  not  because  they  were  negroes,  but  because  they 
were  men.  He  saw  that  they  were  enthusiastic  in  their 
devotion  to  all  kinds  of  men,  and  that  with  them  no  color 
line  barred  them  from  service  where  they  could  help  a 
brother-man  to  rise  to  a  higher  plane.  They  referred 
in  generous  terms  to  men  of  all  colors.  The  white, 
red,  yellow  and  brown  races  were  the  subjects  of  their 
philanthropic  efforts  just  as  much  as  the  black  race. 

"  These  people  seem  to  think  that  human  brotherhood 


180  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

is  a  possible  reality,"  Jefferson  said  to  himself,  as  he 
listened  to  the  conversation. 

The  honored  guest  was  Andrew  Carnegie,  who  was 
personally  acquainted  with  most  of  the  others,  as  Pitts- 
burg has  been  the  theater  where  he  has  played,  in  such 
an  amazing  way  and  with  such  vast  success,  his  part  in 
life's  battle.  He  was  leading  a  discussion  on  a  favorite 
subject  of  his,  the  relation  of  Capital  and  Labor,  when 
he  turned  to  Jefferson  and  said,  "  I  believe  it  is  best 
for  both  capital  and  labor  when  the  laborer  is  the 
capitalist.  Do  you  not  think,  Mr.  Lilly,  that  it  would 
be  a  blessing  to  the  Southern  States  if  the  large  plan- 
tations were  sold  out  in  small  farms  to  the  negro  ten- 
ants?" 

"  I  have  heard  that  plan  spoken  of,"  replied  the  South- 
erner, "  but  I  fear  that  many  in  the  South  are  opposed 
to  such  reconstruction  of  our  present  system.  How- 
ever, they  are  doing  that  already  to  some  extent  in  Ala- 
bama. There  is  no  doubt  the  negro  who  owns  his  own 
farm  is  the  best  kind  of  a  negro." 

"  We  encourage  our  young  men  to  get  hold  of  small 
farms  of  their  own  just  as  soon  as  they  can,"  interposed 
Rose,  who  had  been  listening  with  interest  to  the  conver- 
sation. 

"  I  was  amused  the  other  day,"  said  Mr.  Carnegie,  "  at 
the  remark  a  negro  educator  in  Washington  made  to  me, 
speaking  on  this  subject.  He  was  telling  me  that 
some  of  the  old  slave-owners  in  the  South,  and  their 
children,  think  that  the  negro  is  at  his  best  when  some 
white  man  does  all  his  thinking  for  him,  and  when  he 
submits  to  be  nothing  but  a  beast  of  burden.  Such  men 
claim  to  be  the  best  friends  of  the  black,  and  they  say 
that  those  who  are  seeking  to  uplift  the  race  are  really 
doing  them  an  injury.     '  Such  talk  reminds  me,'   said 


THE  CRISIS  OF  A  LIFE  181 

the  educator,  'of  a  story  about  an  astronomer  who  was 
trying  to  prove  to  an  old  darky  that  the  North  Star  was 
larger  than  the  moon.  "  Dat  may  be,  Massa,"  said  the 
darkey,  dubiously,  "  but  dat  star  has  a  poor  way  o' 
showin'  it." '  I  have  often  thought  myself,"  concluded 
Mr.  Carnegie,  "  that  some  Southerners  have  a  very  poor 
way  of  showing  their  professed  friendship  for  the  negro 
race." 

"  I  am  free  to  confess,"  replied  Jefferson,  with  a  flush, 
"  that  some  of-our  white  men  in  the  South  miscall  them- 
selves friends  of  the  negro  when  they  are  really  their 
bitter  enemies,  but  the  mass  of  the  Southern  people  feel 
kindly  toward  the  black  race,  and  the  sentiment  of  a 
square  deal  to  all  kinds  of  folks,  no  matter  what  their 
color  is,  is  growing  in  the  South  to-day  just  as  this  senti- 
ment is  growing  all  over  the  modern  world.  The  South 
is  sharing  in  the  progress  of  the  times." 

"  There  is  a  white  man  in  Dothan,"  said  Rose,  with 
much  spirit,  "  who  represents  the  really  dangerous  ele- 
ment in  the  Southern  problem  to-day.  I  am  sorry  to 
say  he  is  '  boss '  of  the  town.  Do  you  not  think,  Mr. 
Lilly,"  she  went  on,  "  that  I  am  right  in  calling  the  Le- 
grees  of  the  South  its  worst  curse  in  our  time." 

"  I  cannot  trust  myself  to  express  an  opinion  about 
such  scalawags,"  replied  Jefferson,  with  flushed  cheek, 
Rose's  remark  bringing  to  his  memory  the  filthy  prison 
cell  in  Dothan  and  the  hospital  cot  in  Tuscaloosa  Asy- 
lum. "  I  look  on  the  Legrees,  with  their  doctrines  of 
racial  hate,  as  worse  enemies  of  the  South  than  ever 
the  carpetbaggers  or  the  scalawags  were." 

"  Bravo,"  replied  Andrew  Carnegie.  "  I  don't  ever  re- 
member hearing  a  Southerner  speak  more  intelligently 
about  conditions  in  the  South.  I  am  often  surprised  to 
see  so  many  excellent  Southern  people  who  are  blind, 


182  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

seemingly,  to  the  ominous  evils  that  follow  in  the  wake 
of  these  fomenters  of  racial  strife." 

lAfter  supper,  there  was  a  general  conference  held,  and 
the  different  members  of  the  party  expressed  freely  their 
views.  Jefferson  noted  with  great  interest  how  intelli- 
gently these  Northern  men  discussed  the  whole  negro 
problem  in  all  its  aspects.  "  I  think  I  can  see  how  it 
is,"  said  Jefferson  to  himself,  "  that  a  Northern  girl,  like 
Rose  Atkinson,  has  brought  such  rational  ideas  in  re- 
gard to  the  matter  of  negro  education  down  to  Alabama. 
It  is  the  old  story,"  continued  Jefferson,  thinking  to 
himself,  as  he  listened  that  night.  "  When  people  are 
too  near  a  problem  they  cannot  always  see  its  best  solu- 
tion. We  of  the  South  are  so  near  this  delicate  ques- 
tion that  we  cannot  see  it  in  the  cold,  calm,  clear  light 
of  reason,  and  so  passion  and  blind  prejudice  rule 
amongst  us,  to  our  undoing,  while  these  Northerners 
study  the  whole  matter  far  more  intelligently  than  we 
do,  and,  naturally,  they  are  able  to  tell  us  what  the  proper 
solution  of  our  difficulty  is,  for  this  world  is  governed  in 
the  long  run  by  reason  and  intelligence  and  not  by  blind 
passion  and  prejudice." 

Jefferson  Lilly  never  forgot  the  lesson  which  he 
learned  at  the  supper  party  at  Rose's  home  in  Pitts- 
burg. 

The  next  day  Jefferson  called  on  Dr.  Fisher  and  had  a 
long  conversation  with  him.  It  was  the  turning  point  of 
his  career,  a  crisis  in  his  life.  Dr.  Fisher  listened  with 
the  closest  attention  to  the  young  man's  story,  and,  es- 
pecially, the  account  of  his  Dothan  experiences. 

"  It  is  a  clear  case  of  God's  Providence,"  said  Dr. 
Fisher,  at  last.  "  I  believe,  Mr.  Lilly,  that  God  began  to 
lead  you  into  noble  service  for  your  beloved  Southland 
when  you  first  picked  up  that  wounded  negro.     .Your 


THE  CRISIS  OF  A  LIFE  18S 

subsequent  trials  have  opened  your  eyes  to  the  true  so- 
lution of  the  problem  of  the  South." 

"  One  result  of  my  sufferings,"  responded  Jefferson, 
reverently,  "  has  been  worth  all  they  cost  me.  My  old 
faith  in  my  mother's  God  has  come  back.  I  can  now 
understand  the  self-sacrificing  life  of  Rose  Atkinson.  I 
feel  within  me  the  same  spirit  urging  me  to  devote  my 
life  and  fortune  to  the  betterment  of  the  world." 

"  Could  you  take  charge  of  the  business  affairs  of 
Harbison  at  once?"  asked  Dr.  Fisher,  anxious  to  secure 
the  services  of  such  an  efficient  helper  without  any  delay. 

"  I  can,"  he  replied  promptly.  "  I  can  begin  next 
week,  if  necessary." 

"  You  need  not  fear  to  return  to  Dothan  as  an  official 
in  Harbison,"  said  Dr.  Fisher,  encouragingly,  "  because 
such  men  as  Legree  are  naturally  cowards,  and  when 
they  know  you  have  a  powerful  Northern  organization 
back  of  you,  he  will  not  dare  use  any  extreme  measures 
against  you." 

"  I  fear  him  not,"  replied  the  young  man,  with  confi- 
dence. "  I  am  ready  to  take  up  the  work  at  Harbison, 
no  matter  what  the  consequences  are." 

When  Rose  Atkinson  heard  of  Jefferson's  decision  she 
could  not  conceal  her  great  pleasure. 

"  I  am  proud  of  you,  Mr.  Lilly,"  she  exclaimed,  with 
enthusiasm.  "  We  will  soon  make  our  Harbison  Insti- 
tute the  model  for  all  such  institutions.  With  your  as- 
sistance I  am  confident  that  success  is  assured.  I  can 
see  already  the  Waterloo  of  Legreeism  in  Dothan." 

"  I  have  been  much  encouraged  to  expect  success,"  he 
replied,  smiling,  "  by  something  I  read  the  other  day 
about  another  Dothan  that  was  formerly  located  some- 
where in  Palestine." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  Rose. 


184.  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  Did  you  never  read  the  old  story  about  Elisha  and 
his  servant  in  Dothan  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes.  I  understand  you  now.  You  mean  the 
Bible  story  of  the  investment  of  Dothan  by  Israel's  ene- 
mies, and  the  opening  of  the  young  man's  eyes  so  that 
he  saw  the  hills  around  Dothan  full  of  the  chariots  and 
horsemen  of  the  Lord." 

"  Exactly,"  said  Jefferson.  "  I  have  had  my  eyes 
opened,  so  that  I  can  see  the  chariots  and  the  horsemen 
of  the  Lord  around  every  negro  school  in  the  South.  I 
know  that  God  is  on  the  side  of  Harbison." 

"  I  have  always  had  that  faith,"  said  Rose,  simply. 
"  If  I  did  not  think  that  God  was  working  with  us  to 
uplift  the  negro  race,  I  should  at  once  abandon  the  task 
in  despair,  but  God's  work  cannot  be  stopped.  He  has 
decreed  the  progress  of  the  human  race,  including  men 
of  every  shade  of  color." 

"  When  do  you  expect  to  return  to  Alabama  your- 
self ? "  asked  Jefferson,  as  he  was  about  to  take  his  leave. 

"  In  a  few  more  weeks  I  shall  be  ready  to  go  back," 
she  replied.  "  I  am  glad  you  are  going  to  start  South 
at  once,  for  I  know  that  Dr.  Furber  needs  help.  He  is 
getting  old,  and  that  awful  lynching  of  Walter  Wilkins 
almost  prostrated  him." 

"  That  was  a  frightful  example  of  the  lawless  cruelty 
of  lynch  law,"  said  Jefferson.  "  I  hope  it  will  help  to 
banish  the  horrible  iniquity  from  the  South." 

"  Lynch  law  and  Legreeism  go  together,"  responded 
Rose.  "  Both  of  these  blots  in  our  country  will  disap- 
pear with  the  inevitable  progress  of  the  spirit  of  justice 
and  Christianity  amongst  both  blacks  and  whites." 

"  I  can  now  see  clearly,"  said  the  new  official  of  Harbi- 
son, "  that  my  work  in  a  negro  school  will  be  the  most 
patriotic  service  I  can  render  my  State.     I  have  had  a 


THE  CRISIS  OF  A  LIFE  185 

vision  of  a  new  and  greater  Alabama  which  I  shall  help 
to  create,  an  Alabama  where  justice  and  a  square  deal 
will  be  given  to  every  citizen." 

The  two  young  dreamers  parted  with  much  cordiality, 
expecting  to  meet  again  soon  in  the  Alabama  town. 

Wishing  to  give  Dr.  Furber  an  agreeable  surprise,  Dr. 
Fisher  did  not  write  him  of  Jefferson  Lilly's  appointment 
as  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  Harbison,  but  entrusted 
a  letter  to  the  young  man,  which  he  was  to  deliver  to  the 
President  on  his  arrival  at  Dothan. 

During  the  long  railway  journey  Jefferson's  thoughts 
turned  with  strange  fascination  to  Florence  Ashley.  He 
had  not  heard  a  word  from  her  during  the  entire  sum- 
mer. Donald  Shelby  had  written  him  that  she  was 
spending  the  warm  months  on  the  coast  of  Florida.  He 
wondered  if  she  had  forgotten  him.  He  pictured  to  him- 
self their  meeting  again. 

"  What  will  she  think  of  me  as  a  Harbison  official  ?  " 
he  asked  himself,  more  than  once.  He  was  still  hopeful 
that  once  he  was  back  in  Dothan  and  met  her  that  their 
old  happy  relations  would  be  resumed.  "  I  shall  still  call 
her  Florence,"  he  said  to  himself,  looking  out  of  the  car 
window  and  noticing  a  motor  car  which  the  train  was 
passing.  The  scene  reminded  him  of  his  automobile  ride 
with  Miss  Ashley,  and  his  race  with  the  Flying  Coast- 
land  Express.  He  was  glad  that  he  should  so  soon  have 
an  opportunity  of  meeting  her  again. 

With  many  thrilling  emotions  he  stepped  off  the  train 
at  Dothan. 

"  Drive  me  to  Harbison  Institute,"  he  told  the  cabman, 
and  he  was  soon  hurrying  through  the  main  street  of  the 
town.  He  passed  the  town  hall  and  the  jail,  and  the  mem- 
ory of  his  former  wrongs  came  back  vividly  to  his  mind. 
He  recalled  the  savage  mob  and  his  wild  race  for  life. 


186  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  If  I  am  mobbed  again,"  he  said,  with  determination, 
"  I  will  face  the  lawless  rabble.  Jefferson  Lilly  will 
never  save  his  life  again  at  the  expense  of  his  honor." 

He  well  knew  that  his  first  reappearance  on  the  streets 
of  Dothan  might  mean  another  mob,  and  he  judged 
truly,  but  he  had  counted  the  cost,  and  he  returned  to 
Alabama  to  give  his  life,  if  need  be,  to  the  cause  of  negro 
education,  which  he  now  believed  meant  the  redemption 
of  the  South. 

The  carriage  entered  the  Harbison  grounds  and  drove 
up  to  the  President's  house. 

"  I  have  come  back  to  Dothan  to  assist  you  in  the 
work  at  Harbison,"  he  said  to  the  astonished  President, 
as  he  entered  the  hall  and  met  Dr.  Furber. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  again,  Mr.  Lilly,"  he  replied, 
shaking  his  hand  cordially,  not  understanding  what  he 
meant.     "  I  often  wondered  what  had  become  of  you." 

"  I  have  just  come  from  Pittsburg  and  here  is  a  let- 
ter from  Dr.  Fisher,"  Jefferson  said,  handing  him  an 
envelope. 

Dr.  Furber  read  it  in  amazement.  Tears  came  to  his 
eyes. 

"  Is  it  possible,"  he  exclaimed,  "  that  you  have  really 
come  to  assist  in  our  school?  I  can  hardly  believe,  but 
I  am  glad,  so  glad,"  and  the  aged  President  grasped  Jef- 
ferson's hand. 

"  I  am  at  your  service,"  responded  the  young  man, 
simply. 

Dr.  Furber  looked  at  the  strong,  stalwart  son  of  Ala- 
bama, who  in  the  strength  of  his  youth  and  with  his 
splendid  mental  equipment  thus  offered  himself  to  the 
cause  of  humanity.  "  This  is  glorious,"  exclaimed  the 
President  of  Harbison,  at  length.  "  Our  long-hoped-for 
day  of  triumph  is  at  hand." 


CHAPTER  XIX 

BACK   IN   DOTHAN 

The  surprise  of  the  white  people  in  Dothan  was  great 
Avhen  it  became  known  that  Jefferson  Lilly  had  returned 
to  town  as  an  official  in  Harbison  Institute.  Donald 
Shelby  could  hardly  believe  his  ears  when  Jefferson 
called  him  up  over  the  'phone  the  next  day  after  his  ar- 
rival and  told  him  the  news.  The  two  friends  soon  after- 
wards had  an  affectionate  meeting.  Jefferson  told  of 
his  Northern  trip  and  of  his  visit  to  the  home  of  Rose 
Atkinson  in  Pittsburg. 

"  You  and  Rose  seem  to  be  getting  well  acquainted," 
said  Donald,  at  length,  with  just  a  little  feeling  of  jeal- 
ousy in  his  voice. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Jefferson.  "  Since  I  have  met  her 
people  and  have  seen  the  sacrifice  she  has  made  to  come 
down  into  Alabama  on  her  mission  of  mercy  I  have  come 
to  think  Rose  is  one  of  the  finest  women  in  the  world  — 
except  one,"  he  added,  quickly,  noticing  the  shadow  that 
came  to  the  face  of  his  friend.  "  By  the  way,  Donald," 
he  continued,  "  have  you  seen  Florence  Ashley  lately  ? 
Is  she  back  from  Florida  yet?" 

"  I  understand  she  is  expected  home  now  in  a  few 
days.     She  has  been  away  almost  all  summer." 

"  I  must  see  her  at  once  on  her  return,"  said  Jeffer- 
son, eagerly. 

Donald  shook  his  head.     "  I  am  afraid  that  your  work 

187 


188  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

in  Harbison  will  cost  you  Florence  Ashley,"  he  re- 
marked, slowly. 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  his  friend,  confidently.  "  I  know 
if  I  can  only  see  her  that  I  can  easily  convert  Florence 
to  our  modern  ideas  about  such  institutions  as  Harbi- 
son." 

"  Do  not  be  too  sure  about  that,"  responded  Donald, 
with  another  shake  of  his  head.  "  I  had  a  long  conversa- 
tion the  other  day  with  her  father,  Mr.  Ashley.  I  am 
trying  to  work  up  enough  political  strength  in  Dothan 
so  as  to  control  our  next  city  elections  and  destroy  the 
Legree  '  machine.'  I  thought  I  could  easily  depend  on 
Mr.  Ashley,  as  he  is  an  honorable,  broad-minded  man, 
but  I  found  I  was  mistaken." 

"  Surely  Mr.  Ashley  will  not  continue  to  support  Le- 
gree, will  he  ?  "  asked  Jefferson,  with  wide-open  eyes. 

"  Not  exactly,  and  yet  it  amounts  to  the  same  thing. 
He  is  opposed  to  any  policy  that  will  encourage  the 
blacks  to  think  that  they  are  men.  He  is  getting  very 
bitter  against  Harbison,  and  says  we  might  as  well  waste 
money  and  effort  educating  monkeys  as  niggers." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  Jefferson,  in  astonish- 
ment. 

"  I  mean  that  Legree  has  evidently  hired  some  college 
professor  to  convince  Mr.  Ashley,  and  a  number  of  our 
other  prominent  men,  that  the  negroes  are  not  men  at 
all,  but  simply  animals,  resembling  men  somewhat  in 
physical  shape  just  as  the  anthropoid  apes  do,  but  not, 
by  any  means,  human.  Mr.  Ashley  is  full  of  the  idea. 
I  spent  a  whole  evening  lately  arguing  with  him  about  it." 

"Are  those  the  tactics  that  Legree  is  now  using?" 
said  Jefferson,  laughingly.  "  Well,  that  is  just  the  theory 
that  our  fathers  used  in  defending  negro  slavery,  and  if 
our  fathers  had  been  right  in  their  theory  their  position 


BACK  IN  DOTHAN  189 

would  have  been  impregnable.  But  they  were  wrong, 
manifestly  wrong,  as  the  world  has  decided.  That  theory 
has  been  completely  exploded.  Abraham  Lincoln  called 
all  the  arguments  used  in  its  defense  '  mere  strings  of 
words,'  and  science  has  declared  Lincoln  was  right.  I 
am  surprised  to  learn  that  an  intelligent  man  like  Mr. 
Ashley  could  be  so  provincial  as  to  listen  to  such  an  ex- 
ploded theory  for  a  single  minute." 

"  You  ought  to  talk  to  Mr.  Ashley,"  said  Donald, 
earnestly.  "  He  soon  had  me  in  a  corner.  He  has  all 
kinds  of  arguments  to  prove  his  point.  He  spoke  of  the 
mental  indolence  of  the  negroes,  the  coarseness  of  their 
physical  organization,  their  exemption  from  malarial  dis- 
eases, and  the  strong  odor  which  they  exhale,  all  show- 
ing that  they  are  altogether  different  from  the  white 
race.  He  even  argued  that  in  some  things,  as  in  the 
length  of  the  forearm,  the  negro  was  more  akin  to  the 
anthropoid  ape  than  to  the  white  man.  He  mentioned 
other  physical  characteristics  which  are  peculiar  to  the 
black  race,  and  asked  me  triumphantly,  '  What  can  you 
say  in  answer  to  all  these  arguments  ? ' " 

"  I  wish  I  had  been  there,"  exclaimed  Jefferson, 
quickly.  "  I  heard  that  whole  subject  discussed  in  the 
Sorbonne  in  Paris  by  a  company  of  the  leading  scientists 
in  the  world.  Every  argument  you  have  mentioned,  and 
a  great  many  more,  were  brought  forward  by  a  profes- 
sor from  the  Louisiana  State  University  to  prove  that 
the  negro  race  was  not  human,  but  the  scientists  just 
laughed  at  him." 

"  But  laughter  does  not  answer  arguments  "  said  Don- 
ald, with  a  little  impatience. 

"  I  know  that,"  responded  Jefferson,  with  a  smile, 
"  but  such  arguments  are  ridiculous  to  the  scientific  world 
to-day  when  one  plain,  indubitable  fact,  that  the  South 


190  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

knows  of  so  well,  is  clearly  manifest.  That  fact  is  that 
a  reproduction  of  the  human  race  is  possible  through  the 
negro.  It  is  a  scientific  axiom  that  hybrids  are  sterile, 
and  no  one  ever  was  so  blind  and  ignorant  as  to  claim 
that  the  mulattoes  are  such.  If  the  negro  did  not  belong 
to  the  human  family  there  could  be  no  reproduction  of 
the  human  species  through  the  negro." 

"  I  had  not  thought  of  that,"  replied  Donald,  looking 
at  his  friend  with  a  sigh  of  relief.  "  I  disliked  to  think 
that  some  negroes  such  as  Booker  T.  Washington,  Paul 
Lawrence  Dunbar,  and  the  artist,  Henry  O.  Tanner, 
were  brutes  and  not  human  beings,  but  Mr.  Ashley's 
arguments  seemed  very  strong.  However,  your  point  is 
unanswerable,  and  according  to  science  it  is  impossible 
to  place  the  colored  people  outside  the  human  family." 

"  Peter  Legree  a  man  and  Booker  T.  Washington  a 
brute,"  said  Jefferson.  "  Any  theory  that  would  permit 
such  a  classification  must  come  from  a  madman,  or  else 
a  very  provincial  Southerner,"  and  Jefferson  Lilly 
laughed  long  and  loudly. 

"Those. who  are  opposed  to  negro  education  and  to 
the  negro's  right  to  life  and  liberty  will  have  to  find  a 
better  basis  for  their  position  than  such  an  exploded 
theory  as  that.  Only  a  provincial  fossil  would  think  of 
using  it,"  he  remarked  at  length  to  Donald. 

"  I  must  confess  you  seem  to  me  to  be  well  qualified 
to  be  an  official  in  Harbison,"  said  the  young  lawyer  to 
Jefferson,  as  they  parted.  "  I  wish  you  all  success.  I 
shall  seek  to  destroy  Legree  politically,  and  then  your 
school  will  have  a  fair  show.  There  are  a  large  number 
of  us  in  Dothan  who  would  like  to  see  the  present  po- 
litical tyranny  and  rottenness  succeeded  by  an  era  of 
enlightened  policy  founded  on  the  square  deal." 


BACK  IN  DOTHAN  191 

"  Good  for  you,  Donald.  We  will  clean  up  this  old 
town  yet,  and  wipe  out  Dothan's  curse.  Legreeism  will 
have  to  go." 

With  these  encouraging  sentiments  on  the  part  of  both, 
the  two  friends  separated. 

A  few  days  later,  Jefferson  Lilly  was  walking  down 
the  streets  of  Dothan.  The  Legree  minions  had  all 
learned  of  his  return,  and  he  could  tell  by  the  whispered 
words  and  the  looks  of  several  of  the  people  that  he  was 
a  marked  man  on  the  street  that  day.  Soon  he  was  ac- 
costed by  the  very  same  policeman  who  had  told  him  to 
leave  town  some  months  before,  who  said  to  him,  with 
an  oath,  "  I  thought  we  sent  you  out  of  this  town  once 
before."  Jefferson  looked  at  the  officer  of  the  law  in 
contempt,  and  replied,  "  I  am  a  free,  American  citizen. 
The  Stars  and  Stripes  assure  me  of  protection  here  as 
well  as  in  any  other  place  in  the  world." 

"  What  do  we  care  for  the  Stars  and  Stripes,"  said  the 
policeman,  with  another  oath.  "  You'll  soon  find  out  that 
we  don't  want  such  as  you  in  this  town." 

Jefferson  soon  saw  that  the  policeman's  threat  was  no 
idle  word.  Shortly  afterwards,  just  as  before,  a  crowd 
began  to  form  behind  him,  and  he  could  hear  the  now 
familiar  insult,  "  white  nigger,"  pass  from  mouth  to 
mouth.  The  rabble  following  him  began  to  increase,  and 
the  mob  spirit  was  rapidly  rising,  when  Jefferson  quietly 
turned  around,  and  walked  right  up  to  the  leaders  of  the 
crowd. 

"  Are  you  people  following  me  ?  "  he  asked  the  amazed 
rabble.  They  stared  at  him  in  mute  astonishment,  and 
then  began  to  fall  back  before  his  calm  and  steady  gaze. 
His  quiet,  masterful  spirit  took  the  bravado  out  of  them, 
and  they  melted  away  in  confusion. 


192  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Jefferson  was  surprised  himself  at  his  easy  victory,  but 
he  determined  to  put  an  end  to  such  disturbances  in  the 
future. 

He  walked  slowly  to  the  town  hall  and  entered  the 
Mayor's  office.  That  fat,  lazy-looking  official  was  sit- 
ting at  his  desk,  and  he  looked  up  in  a  surprised  way  at 
young  Lilly,  as  though  he  were  a  ghost. 

"  I  have  returned  to  Dothan  as  the  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  of  Harbison,"  said  the  young  man,  abruptly. 

The  Mayor  muttered  something  under  his  breath,  but 
Jefferson  did  not  catch  his  meaning. 

"  I  want  to  give  you  fair  warning,  as  the  chief  execu- 
tive of  Dothan  you  are  responsible  for  keeping  order  on 
the  streets  of  this  town.  With  the  permission  and  as- 
sistance of  your  police  a  crowd  formed  to  mob  me  a  few 
moments  ago." 

"  People  don't  want  such  as  you  in  Dothan,"  inter- 
rupted the  Mayor. 

Without  noticing  the  interruption,  Jefferson  went  on, 
"  If  you  do  not  promise  me  protection  from  such  insults 
I  shall  telegraph  to  the  headquarters  of  our  organiza- 
tion in  Pittsburg,  and  the  Governor  of  Alabama  will 
send  a  company  of  militia  to  keep  order,  if  you  cannot 
do  so,  and  if  the  militia  fail,  the  President  of  the  United 
States  will  send  a  regiment  of  the  regular  Army.  The 
Stars  and  Stripes  mean  protection  to  American  citizens 
in  Dothan  as  well  as  in  any  other  part  of  our  country, 
or  the  world.     Do  you  understand  me,  sir  ?  " 

The  Mayor  quailed  before  the  earnest  intensity  of  Jef- 
ferson's spirit,  but  he  was  silent. 

"  You  must  promise  me  protection,  sir,"  Jefferson  re- 
peated, "  or  I  will  send  a  telegram  immediately,  and  in 
six  hours  the  State  militia  will  be  here." 

The  Mayor  began  to  see  that  Jefferson  Lilly  was  no 


BACK  IN  DOTHAN  193 

longer  an  unprotected  citizen,  but  that  on  account  of  his 
connection  with  Harbison  there  was  a  possibility  that  he 
might  be  able  to  get  the  protection  which  he  claimed. 

"  What  can  I  do?"  he  asked  Jefferson. 

"  You  can  tell  your  police  to  disperse,  instead  of  gath- 
ering, such  mobs.  That  is  all  that  I  ask,"  he  answered, 
firmly. 

Noticing  the  determination  in  the  young  Harbison  offi- 
cial's face,  the  Mayor  assured  him  that  he  would  have 
no  further  trouble. 

After  this  episode,  the  only  way  in  which  Legree's 
minions  showed  their  hostility  was  in  their  looks,  but 
Jefferson  scorned  their  frowns,  and  felt  that  he  was  se- 
cure. 

The  very  day  of  his  encounter  with  the  Mayor,  Jef- 
ferson was  walking  slowly  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town, 
enjoying  an  hour  of  recreation,  when  he  heard  a  carriage 
drive  up  behind  him.  He  looked  up,  as  the  vehicle  was 
rolling  past,  and,  to  his  delight,  saw  Florence  Ashley  sit- 
ting alone,  evidently  in  deep  meditation.  She  did  not 
see  him,  but,  with  a  bound,  he  was  at  the  side  of  the 
carriage,  crying,  "  Florence,  Florence." 

She  looked  up  in  quick  surprise,  and  a  deep  flush  man- 
tled her  cheeks,  as  she  exclaimed,  "  Jefferson." 

The  driver  at  once  stopped,  and  Jefferson  entered  the 
carriage  as  in  a  dream. 

They  greeted  each  other  with  mutual  joy,  and,  on  both 
sides,  everything  in  the  past  that  was  unpleasant,  was 
forgotten. 

As  soon  as  he  recovered  himself  somewhat,  Jefferson 
asked,  "  When  did  you  return  to  Dothan  ?  " 

"  I  came  back  yesterday,  and  you  were  the  last  person 
I  expected  to  find  here.  I  was  afraid  you  would  never 
come  back." 


194  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  Don't  you  know  why  I  am  in  Dothan  ?  " 

The  girl  blushed,  thinking  he  referred  to  herself,  and 
made  no  reply. 

"  I  am  now  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  Harbison 
Institute,"  he  went  on. 

The  girl  turned  to  him  quickly,  and  the  color  left  her 
face  as  she  said  in  quivering  tones,  "  How  could  you, 
Jefferson  ?  I  thought  you  had  come  back  to  tell  me  that 
you  had  given  up  all  those  foolish  ideas,  which  have  al- 
ready made  you  so  much  trouble,  and  that  we  could  be 
happy  again." 

She  covered  her  face  with  her  hands,  and  burst  into 
tears. 

Jefferson  was  strangely  moved.  He  turned  to  her 
tenderly.  "  I  thought  you  had  forgotten  me,  since  you 
did  not  answer  my  letter,  or  I  would  have  let  you  know 
before  I  came  back." 

"  Answer  your  letter,"  echoed  the  girl.  "  I  never  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  you.  I  could  not  understand  why 
you  did  not  write." 

"  I  wrote  you  from  Tuscaloosa  Asylum  just  after  I 
was  taken  from  Dothan  and  gave  you  the  address  of  my 
law  firm  in  Montgomery.  Did  you  not  receive  that  let- 
ter?" 

"  No,"  answered  Florence,  looking  puzzled.  "  I  ex- 
pect mamma  got  it  and  did  not  show  it  to  me.  She  told 
me  to  foiget  you,  after  you  got  into  that  awful  trouble, 
but  I  couldn't,  I  couldn't." 

She  leaned  towards  him,  and  Jefferson's  heart  was 
thrilled  with  joy. 

"  Florence,  we  will  be  happy  yet.  I  did  not  under- 
stand your  silence,  but  I  never  forgot  you  for  a  single 
day." 

"  But  as  long  as  you  are  in  Harbison,  we  cannot  asso- 


BACK  IN  DOTHAN  195 

date,"  said  his  companion,  her  eyes  again  filling  with 
tears.  "  Papa  and  mamma  have  turned  more  bitter  than 
ever  against  the  school.  I  was  told  just  this  morning 
that  I  was  not  to  invite  even  Rose  Atkinson  to  our  party 
next  week,  no  matter  whether  it  offended  the  Waynors 
or  not." 

"  I'm  sorry,"  began  Jefferson. 

"  Can't  you  give  up  those  foolish  fancies  of  yours 
about  the  black  folks,  and  be  like  other  young  men?  "  she 
pleaded. 

"  Come  out  to  Harbison  and  see  the  institution,  Flor- 
ence," said  Jefferson,  in  reply;  "you  have  never  been 
there  and  you  do  not  know  what  a  magnificent  work  is 
being  done  by  that  school,  and  others  like  it.  They 
mean  the  redemption  of  the  South.  I  feel  sure  that  some 
day  you  will  be  proud  that  I  am  a  Harbison  man." 

But  the  girl  drew  away  from  him  and  exclaimed  in 
tones  of  disgust,  "  Never,  Jefferson,  never.  I  want  noth- 
ing to  do  with  such  a  place.  I  think  it  is  terrible  you 
are  living  out  there.  If  you  stay,  we  cannot  see  each 
other  any  more." 

"  You  do  not  understand,"  he  replied,  earnestly.  "  In 
such  places  as  Harbison  we  are  changing  a  black  plague 
into  a  genuine  blessing.  At  present,  our  ignorant  negro 
population  is  like  a  malarial  swamp,  a  menace  to  us  all, 
but  when  educated,  they  become  like  these  same  swamps 
when  drained,  useful  and  desirable." 

"  Impossible,"  answered  the  girl.  "  I  was  in  New  Or- 
leans this  summer,  and  I  saw  enough  to  convince  me  that 
negroes  are  only  animals." 

"  Those  negro  settlements  in  Louisiana  prove  to  me," 
replied  Jefferson,  quickly,  "  that  the  white  men  of  the 
State  are  brutally  ignorant  or  they  would  make  desperate 
efforts  to  heal  those  plague  spots." 


196  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  It  can't  be  done,"  she  responded,  impatiently.  "  The 
case  is  hopeless.  The  negroes  are  naturally  vicious  and 
animal-like." 

"  That  is  false,"  said  Jefferson.  "  It  has  been  proved 
wherever  it  has  been  intelligently  tried  that  the  negroes, 
like  all  other  human  beings,  respond  to  wise  efforts  which 
are  made  for  their  uplift.  They  can  be  raised  out  of 
their  brutish  ignorance  into  useful  manhood  and  woman- 
hood." 

"  There  is  no  use  talking  to  me  any  more,  Jefferson," 
she  answered,  with  a  gesture  of  impatience  at  his  per- 
sistence. "  You  will  have  to  choose  between  Harbison 
and  me.  If  you  remain  there  you  and  I  must  become 
strangers." 

"  Florence,"  said  Jefferson,  appealingly.  "  You  surely 
will  not  send  me  adrift  like  that  now  that  we  have  met 
again." 

The  proud  daughter  of  Alabama  drew  herself  up.  She: 
called  to  her  aid  all  the  race  prejudice  which  she  had  in- 
herited, and  which  she  had  acquired  by  her  education 
and  her  environment.  She  resolutely  shut  her  ears  to  the 
pleadings  of  her  own  poor,  lonely,  longing  heart.  She 
steeled  herself  against  any  pity  for  the  young  man  at  her 
side. 

"  Which  is  it  to  be  ?  "  she  demanded,  looking  him  full 
in  the  face. 

"  I  cannot  give  you  up,"  said  Jefferson,  his  moist  eyes 
and  the  tone  of  his  voice  showing  her  the  depth  of  his 
feeling. 

"  Will  you  give  up  your  place  in  Harbison  ?  "  she  asked 
again. 

He  paused.  Something  within  him  spoke  wildly, 
tumultuously,  "  Say  yes.  Do  not  kill  your  own  joy  and 
the  joy  of  another.     Do  not  mar  two  lives.     Say  yes  at 


BACK  IN  DOTHAN  197 

once."  But  another  voice  was  also  heard.  It  was  the 
voice  of  reason  and  conscience.  He  thought  of  his 
evening  at  the  home  of  Rose  Atkinson  in  Pittsburg,  and 
the  new,  strange  ideas  that  came  to  him  at  that  time. 
He  thought  of  the  poor,  mute  millions  of  black  souls, 
unable  even  to  send  out  a  Macedonian  cry,  so  dense  was 
their  ignorance. 

"  I  cannot  give  up  Harbison,"  he  answered  slowly. 
"  My  work  is  there,  and  I  have  given  my  word  for  a 
term  of  service." 

"  Then  we  part,"  said  the  girl,  in  quick  response. 

The  carriage  stopped,  and  Jefferson  stepped  out.  He 
stood  watching  the  vehicle  until  it  had  passed  out  of 
sight  and  then,  like  a  man  in  a  stupor,  he  made  his  way 
back  to  Harbison. 


CHAPTER  XX 

BLOTTING    OUT    THE    COLOR    LINE 

"  Wait  a  moment,  Miss  Thomas.  I  am  going  your 
way." 

Martha  Thomas  looked  around  in  a  frightened  man- 
ner, as  she  heard  a  man's  voice  speak  these  words.  She 
had  started  for  a  walk  to  a  friend's  house  a  little  dis- 
tance from  Dothan,  and  she  had  taken  a  lonely  path 
through  some  woods.  It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  and 
the  dusky  maiden  had  been  hurrying  along  as  fast  as  she 
could. 

When  she  saw  that  it  was  a  white  man  who  had  ad- 
dressed her,  she  quickened  her  pace,  but  the  man  who 
was  following  soon  reached  her  side.  Looking  at  him 
closely,  Martha  Thomas  was  surprised  and  horrified  to 
see  that  it  was  Peter  Legree. 

Although  the  three  men,  who  had  attacked  and  beaten 
her  father  almost  to  death  on  the  day  that  Jefferson 
Lilly  performed  his  first  act  of  mercy  for  the  black  race, 
were  closely  masked,  Mose  Thomas  was  convinced  that 
the  leader  of  the  trio  was  none  other  than  Peter  Legree 
himself,  and  he  had  often  confided  this  information  to 
his  two  children,  Nafti  and  Martha,  although  he  coun- 
seled them  to  silence  as  he  feared  another  outrage  at  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  of  his  race. 

In  addition  to  this,  Martha  Thomas  well  knew  Peter 
Legree's  contempt  for  negroes,  and  the  insults  which  he 
delighted  to  heap  upon  them  on  all  possible  occasions. 

198 


BLOTTING  OUT  THE  COLOR  LINE     199 

Accordingly,  she  dreaded  him,  as  the  lark  dreads  a  hawk, 
and  she  trembled  visibly  when  she  found  herself  alone 
in  his  company. 

"  Don't  hurry  so  fast.  I  want  to  talk  to  you,  Mar- 
tha," he  continued,  breathing  heavily  from  his  hurried 
pursuit  of  the  colored  girl. 

Martha  Thomas  was  too  confused  to  reply,  and,  in  her 
fright,  was  wondering  what  she  could  do,  when  the 
"  boss "  of  Dothan  went  on,  "  You  know  who  I  am. 
My  name  is  Peter  Legree.  I  have  been  watching  you  for 
some  time,  and  I  have  taken  a  fancy  to  you,  Martha,  in 
spite  of  your  dark  complexion." 

The  girl  glanced  at  him  in  dread,  and  instantly  turned 
her  face  away  with  a  shudder  as  she  saw  the  wicked 
gleam  in  his  eyes. 

"  Let  me  alone,  Mr.  Legree,"  she  faltered.  "  I  do  not 
wish  to  have  anything  to  do  with  you." 

"  Don't  talk  like  that,  Martha,"  replied  Legree,  trying 
to  speak  in  a  sentimental  tone.  "  I  want  you  to  listen  to 
me  and  I  will  give  you  a  lot  of  money,  and  you  can  live 
in  a  nice  house  of  your  own,  and  be  a  lady.  Be  my  girl, 
Martha,  and  it  is  all  yours." 

As  Legree  said  these  words,  he  threw  his  arm  around 
the  waist  of  the  young  negress  and  sought  to  draw  her 
to  his  side. 

With  a  cry  like  a  wounded  bird,  the  girl  bounded 
from  his  embrace,  rushed  shrieking  into  the  woods  and 
disappeared  amongst  the  trees,  before  he  realized  what 
had  happened.  He  tried  to  follow  her,  but  his  unwieldy 
body  proved  utterly  incapable  of  movement  swift  enough 
to  catch  up  with  the  frightened  negress,  who  sped  back 
to  Dothan  like  a  hunted  deer. 

Hurrying  to  Harbison  Institute,  she  rushed  to  her  own 
room,  threw  herself  on  the  bed,  and  broke  out  into  loud 


200  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

weeping.  Mrs.  Wiley,  who  happened  to  be  in  an  ad- 
joining room,  heard  her  sobs  and  hastened  to  her  side. 

At  first  the  Matron  could  not  get  her  to  tell  the  reason 
for  her  distress,  but,  becoming  more  calm,  she  related 
her  encounter  with  Legree. 

Mrs.  Wiley's  heart  was  touched.  "  My  poor  girl,"  she 
said,  putting  her  arm  tenderly  around  the  motherless 
young  negress,  "  don't  be  afraid.     He  cannot  harm  you." 

"  But  I  am  afraid  of  him,"  she  sobbed.  "  He  nearly 
killed  my  father  and  I  am  sure  he  will  not  let  me  alone 
until — "  Here  she  ceased  and  bowing  her  head  in  her 
hands  she  wept  uncontrollably. 

Mrs.  Wiley  became  somewhat  alarmed.  "  Don't  cry, 
Martha,  don't  cry,"  she  said  to  the  girl,  soothingly. 
"  We'll  tell  Dr.  Furber." 

"No,  no,"  shrieked  the  girl,  wildly,  "don't  tell  Dr. 
Furber.  If  that  horrid  man  hears  of  it  he  will  surely 
kill  papa  or  Nafti.  Oh,  what  shall  I  do?  What  shall  I 
do?" 

Mrs.  Wiley  began  to  understand  the  nature  of  the 
young  negress'  fear,  which  she  sadly  knew  was  not  un- 
reasonable. 

She  decided,  however,  to  brace  up  the  spirit  of  the 
agitated  girl. 

"  For  shame,  Martha,"  she  began.  "  You  claim  to  be 
a  Christian  and  yet  you  are  so  easily  frightened.  Do 
you  not  know  that  God  cares  for  you  ?  " 

This  was  a  powerful  argument  with  Martha  Thomas, 
as  Mrs.  Wiley  well  knew,  for  she  was  a  devout  and  con- 
scientious Christian. 

"  God  cares  for  the  little  sparrows,"  Mrs.  Wiley  went 
on,  more  tenderly.  "  Don't  be  afraid  to  trust  Him.  Le- 
gree cannot  hurt  you." 

Gradually    her    agitation    left    and    Martha    became! 


BLOTTING  OUT  THE  COLOR  LINE     201 

calmer.  She  sat  in  silence  for  a  time  and  then  said, 
slowly,  "  I  wish  Miss  Atkinson  were  at  home.  She 
would  know  what  I  ought  to  do." 

"  Miss  Atkinson  returns  to-night,"  said  Mrs.  Wiley, 
quickly.  "  Dr.  Furber  had  a  telegram  from  her  this 
morning." 

By  this  time  the  negress  was  composed  again,  and  she 
said  quietly,  "  I  will  wait  until  she  comes  and  tell  her 
about  it." 

The  next  day  Martha  Thomas  saw  Rose  Atkinson,  who 
greeted  her  most  cordially,  and  told  the  young  North- 
erner her  story.  Rose  questioned  her  closely  to  be  sure 
there  was  no  mistake,  but  the  girl's  tale,  though  seem- 
ingly incredible,  was  most  certainly  true. 

The  young  Pittsburger  was  roused  to  the  greatest  in- 
dignation. 

"  The  white  villain,"  she  said  to  herself,  as  she  lis- 
tened to  Martha's  recital  of  the  insult,  "  he  and  crea- 
tures like  him  are  the  very  whites  who  cry  out  against 
Harbison  Institute,  and  say  that  such  institutions  will 
blot  out  the  color  line.  Such  white  wretches  as  he,  with 
his  black,  devilish  heart,  are  the  real  curse  of  the  South." 

"  What  ought  I  to  do  ?  "  asked  Martha,  after  her  story 
was  told  and  re-told.     "  I  am  afraid  of  that  man  now." 

"  Do  not  leave  the  Harbison  grounds  for  a  few  days, 
Martha,"  Miss  Atkinson  told  her,  "  and  I  will  see  to  it 
that  Peter  Legree  does  not  insult  you  again." 

Feeling  all  confidence  in  the  power  of  the  teacher,  the 
girl  became  more  cheerful. 

"  I  will  never  go  out  in  the  country  alone  again,"  she 
said.  "  I  ought  to  have  known  better  anyway,  for  my 
father  has  spoken  to  me  about  it,  but  I  was  not  afraid 
before  this.  I  dare  not  tell  Nafti  or  father  about  this, 
for  I  do  not  know  what  they  would  do." 


202  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  Do  not  say  a  word  to  anyone  about  it,"  responded 
Rose  Atkinson.  "  I  will  see  to  it  that  Legree,  at  least, 
does  not  trouble  you  again." 

After  thinking  the  matter  over,  Rose  decided  she  would 
not  trouble  Dr.  Furber  with  the  matter,  but  would  take 
the  case  at  once  to  Rev.  William  Durham,  the  pastor  of 
Calvary  Church.  "  Legree  is  a  member  of  his  church," 
she  said  to  herself.  "  I  will  see  if  such  actions  are  allow- 
able on  the  part  of  his  church-members." 

The  next  day  it  was  with  some  surprise  that  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Durham  saw  Rose  Atkinson  approaching  the  par- 
sonage. 

She  greeted  the  minister  cordially,  telling  him  that  she 
had  just  returned  from  a  trip  to  Pennsylvania,  and  say- 
ing she  was  glad  to  be  back  in  Alabama  again. 

"  I  have  come  to  see  you  to-day  on  a  matter  that  I  dis- 
like to  speak  about,  but  which  I  must  relate  to  you,"  she 
said  at  length,  with  a  shade  of  embarrassment. 

"If  there  is  anything  I  can  do  for  you,  I  shall  be  glad 
to  do  it,"  said  Mr.  Durham,  so  cordially,  that  Rose  felt 
sure  that  Booker  T.  Washington's  address  must  have 
mollified  somewhat  the  preacher's  feelings  in  regard  to 
Harbison. 

"  I  want  you  first  to  excuse  me  for  talking  so  plainly 
in  church  the  day  that  your  brother  from  Hambright 
preached,  but  I  simply  could  not  help  it." 

"  That  was  all  right,"  responded  Mr.  Durham,  in  some 
confusion.  "  I  told  John  afterwards  that  I  thought  he 
was  not  in  order  that  day." 

"  I  have  come  to  see  you  about  something  else,"  went 
on  Rose,  getting  very  serious  in  her  tone.  "  There  has 
been  another  outrage  on  one  of  our  students  at  Harbi- 
son." 


BLOTTING  OUT  THE  COLOR  LINE     203 

"  What  is  that  ?  "  asked  the  minister,  with  a  startled 
look.     "  I  have  not  heard  of  it." 

Rose  then  related  briefly  Martha's  story,  and  asked 
bluntly,  "  Is  not  Peter  Legree  a  member  of  Calvary 
Church?" 

"  He  is,"  said  Mr.  Durham. 

"Is  such  conduct  consistent  in  a  church-member?" 
asked  the  girl,  looking  Mr.  Durham  straight  in  the  eye. 

The  old  preacher  arose  from  his  seat  and  faced  the 
teacher  of  Harbison. 

"  Are  you  sure  that  this  young  negress  told  the  truth?  " 
he  inquired,  so  earnestly  that  Rose  was  almost  fright- 
ened. His  eyes  were  gleaming  like  coals  of  fire.  He 
had  clenched  his  fists  and  was  grinding  his  teeth  to- 
gether. 

"  You  know  the  Thomas  family  yourself,"  replied 
Rose.  "  I  could  hardly  believe  the  girl  at  first  myself 
and  I  questioned  her  closely,  but  I  soon  saw  she  was 
telling  me  the  exact  truth.  We  look  on  Martha  as  a 
sincere  Christian  girl  and  we  have  never  had  any  occa- 
sion to  doubt  her  word." 

"  This  is  the  second  complaint  of  the  kind  I  have  had 
against  my  church-members  recently,"  Mr.  Durham  said, 
at  length.  "If  these  things  are  true,  by  the  help  of  God, 
I  will  stop  the  accursed  thing  if  I  have  to  wreck  the 
whole  church  to  do  it.  I  will  expose  these  men,  no  mat- 
ter who  they  are.  I  thank  you  for  telling  me  about  this, 
Miss  Atkinson.  Martha  Thomas  need  not  fear  that  Le- 
gree will  insult  her  again.     I  will  see  him." 

Before  she  left  the  parsonage,  Rose  ventured  to  refer 
to  the  Booker  T.  Washington  meeting. 

"  How  did  you  like  the  President  of  Tuskegee  ? " 
asked  the  Northern  girl. 


204  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

The  preacher  paused  a  few  minutes  and  then  replied 
slowly,  "  I  was  greatly  impressed  with  his  address.  I 
have  thought  since,  Miss  Atkmson,  that  perhaps  some  of 
us  older  men,  who  remember  the  bitter  past,  do  not  look 
at  the  negro  problem  in  a  modern  way." 

"  I  am  delighted  to  hear  you  say  this,"  responded  Rose, 
eagerly.  "  I  believe,  Mr.  Durham,  you  will  yet  become 
a  friend  of  Harbison." 

The  old  man  smiled  wanly  and  replied,  "  I  am  still 
very  dubious  about  the  results  of  such  efforts  as  yours 
on  the  blacks,  but  the  old  method  of  keeping  them  in  ig- 
norance does  not  seem  to  work  well  in  the  twentieth 
century.  We  surely  have  a  dark,  and,  I  fear,  a  hopeless 
problem." 

"  Not  at  all,"  responded  Rose,  with  enthusiasm. 
"  Booker  T.  Washington  is  right,  as  experience  is  prov- 
ing. The  application  of  the  teachings  of  Jesus  to  the 
negro  problem  will  solve  it  in  a  manner  that  is  entirely 
satisfactory  both  to  God  and  man.  Do  not  despair,  Mr. 
Durham.  Do  you  not  preach  that  the  Gospel  is  the 
power  of  God  to  redeem  the  world?  Does  not  that  in- 
clude all  peoples  and  all  races  ?  " 

When  Rose  Atkinson  had  gone,  Rev.  William  Durham 
sat  in  deep  thought  for  some  time.  At  length,  he  arose, 
put  on  his  hat,  and  went  up  town.  Calling  at  Legree's 
office  he  found  that  gentleman  alone.  After  a  few  for- 
mal words  of  greeting,  Mr.  Durham  began,  "  I  have  been 
told  on  good  authority  that  you  insulted  the  black  girl, 
Martha'  Thomas,  a  few  days  ago.  Is  the  story  true,  Mr. 
Legree  ?  " 

The  "  boss  "  of  Dothan  looked  up  quickly  at  his  pas- 
tor, but  his  eyes  quailed  before  the  steady  gaze  of  the 
preacher. 


BLOTTING  OUT  THE  COLOR  LINE     205 

"  I  ask,  is  this  report  about  you  true  ?  "  repeated  Mr. 
Durham,  in  a  serious  tone. 

"  Who  told  you  about  it  ?  "  asked  Legree,  recovering 
somewhat  from  his  astonishment  at  the  minister's  ques- 
tion and  manner. 

"  That  makes  no  difference,  sir,"  he  replied.  "  Did 
you  insult  Martha  Thomas?" 

"  Why,  preacher,"  replied  Legree,  impatiently,  "  don't 
you  know  you  can't  insult  a  nigger  ?  Martha  Thomas  is! 
a  nigger." 

"Do  you  acknowledge  then  that  the  charge  is  true?" 
asked  the  minister  again,  looking  steadily  at  the  "  boss." 

"  What  if  it  is  true  ?  "  said  the  other,  defiantly. 

"  If  it  is  true  you  must  promise  me  never  to  insult  that 
girl  again,  or  by  the  help  of  God,  I  will  expose  your  vil- 
lainy all  over  Alabama."  The  minister  had  arisen  to  his 
feet,  and  was  looking  down,  like  an  avenging  angel  on 
his  church-member.  "  This  is  not  the  first  story  of  this 
kind  of  deviltry  I  have  heard,  and  I  am  going  to  stop  it 
amongst  the  members  of  Calvary  Church,"  continued  the 
preacher  in  an  emphatic  tone. 

"  Bosh,"  answered  Legree,  turning  away.  "  You  are 
getting  clear  off,  Mr.  Durham,  on  this  nigger  question. 
These  niggers  are  no  account  anyway.  A  white  man 
can  use  them  just  as  he  wants  to." 

The  insulting  tone,  the  brutal  language,  the  horrible 
insinuation  of  Legree's  remarks  was  more  than  the  min- 
ister of  Calvary  Church  could  stand.  He  shook  his 
trembling  white  hand  in  the  face  of  Dothan's  master, 
and,  in  a  voice  trembling  with  emotion,  he  replied,  "  I 
have  often  thought,  Mr.  Legree,  that  you  failed  to  show 
at  all  times  a  Christian  spirit,  but  I  see  now  that  you  are 
not  only  not  a  Christian,  but  you  are  not  even  a  man. 


206  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Such  language  as  yours  shows  you  are  a  degraded  and 
debased  wretch,  and  I  shall  tolerate  you  no  longer,  sir." 

Peter  Legree  could  tell  from  the  whole  manner  of  the 
minister  that  he  was  in  dead  earnest.  He  began  to  fear 
lest  his  tottering  power  would  fail  completely  if  the  min- 
ister became  his  open  enemy.  His  own  idea  was  that  a 
negro  or  negress  had  no  rights  which  a  white  man  was 
bound  to  respect,  but  he  well  knew  that  this  old-time  idea 
was  no  longer  shared  by  all  the  whites  of  Alabama. 

"  Don't  get  excited,  Mr.  Durham,"  he  answered.  "  Sit 
down  and  let  us  talk  this  matter  over.  The  fact  is  that 
these  nigger  women  are  to  blame." 

"  Stop,"  shouted  Mr.  Durham,  excitedly.  "  Do  not  add 
to  your  villainy  by  slandering  the  good  name  of  Martha 
Thomas." 

"  I  said  nothing  about  her,"  said  Legree,  sulkily. 

"  Do  you  promise  to  let  the  girl  alone  after  this  ?  " 
asked  the  minister,  earnestly,  still  standing  in  front  of 
the  "  boss." 

"  I  do,"  he  replied,  petulantly.  "  No  nigger  is  worth 
a  fuss  between  white  men.  Let  us  shake  hands  on  it, 
preacher." 

But  Mr.  Durham  was  thoroughly  aroused  and  ignored 
Legree's  outstretched  hand.  "  It  is  not  a  question  of 
what  a  negro  is  worth,"  he  exclaimed.  "  It  is  a  ques- 
tion of  justice,  a  question  of  decency,  a  question  of  Chris- 
tianity. I  want  you  to  remember  hereafter,  Mr.  Legree, 
that  Calvary  Church  stands  for  these  things,  and  if  you 
do  not  believe  in  justice  and  decency,  we  do  not  want  you 
as  a  member  of  our  church." 

Legree  made  no  reply,  and  the  minister  added  more 
gently,  "  I  am  sorry  to  be  compelled  to  speak  to  you  in 
this  way,  but  the  salvation  of  your  own  soul  demands 
it,"  and  Mr.  Durham  walked  out  of  the  office. 


BLOTTING  OUT  THE  COLOR  LINE     207 

Legree  sat  silent  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  burst 
out  in  a  fearful  kind  of  a  laugh.  It  was  the  laugh  that 
Victor  Hugo  describes  when  he  pictures  a  lost  soul  mock- 
ing at  its  own  damnation.  "  The  salvation  of  my  soul,"  he 
sneered.  "  What  do  I  care  for  my  soul  ?  I'll  teach  that 
old  preacher  a  lesson  yet  that  he  won't  soon  forget." 


CHAPTER  XXI 

NEW   VIEWS   ON   THE   RACE   QUESTION 

One  afternoon  a  few  days  after  the  interview  between 
Rev.  William  Durham  and  Peter  Legree,  the  minister 
started  on  a  drive  into  the  country.  His  team  of  rest- 
less grays  were  highly  strung  and  nervous,  but  Mr.  Dur- 
ham liked  thoroughbreds,  old  though  he  was,  and  he  en- 
joyed nothing  better  than  a  fast  drive. 

Whirling  out  of  town  at  a  rapid  pace  he  took  the  road 
by  the  side  of  which  Jefferson  Lilly  had  found  the 
wounded  Mose  Thomas  on  the  eventful  day  which 
marked  the  beginning  of  our  story. 

Just  as  the  carriage  was  approaching  the  spot  where 
the  minister  on  that  day  had  passed  by  the  half-dead 
negro  on  the  other  side,  scorning  to  help  him,  a  sudden 
swerve  of  the  mettled  team  broke  the  harness  and  the 
pole  of  the  buggy  fell  to  the  ground.  In  an  instant  the 
frightened  horses  leaped  in  the  air,  and  started  to  run 
furiously  along  the  road  with  the  pole  dragging  on  the 
ground. 

Mr.  Durham  sought  in  vain  to  gain  control  and  the 
vehicle  began  to  sway  dangerously  from  side  to  side. 
On  rushed  the  horses  at  full  speed  and  a  fearful  accident 
seemed  imminent.  Only  the  minister's  coolness  saved 
him  from  immediate  wreck.  Never  for  a  moment  did  he 
lose  his  self-control.  Pale  as  death,  but  with  his  eyes 
flashing  fire,  he  grasped  the  reins  with  his  full  strength, 
and  by  his  strenuous  efforts  he  managed  to  keep  the 

208 


NEW  VIEWS  ON  RACE  QUESTION      209 

runaway  horses  in  the  middle  of  the  road.  In  an  un- 
expected way  help  suddenly  came  to  Mr.  Durham.  Gal- 
loping towards  Dothan,  a  colored  horseman  appeared  a 
short  distance  in  front.  He  saw  the  swaying  carriage 
rushing  along  towards  him  and  quickly  stopped  his  horse 
and  backed  it  close  to  the  fence  to  avoid  a  collision.  As 
the  horses  raced  madly  past  him  he  caught  one  glimpse 
of  the  occupant  of  the  buggy  and  realized  Mr.  Durham's 
imminent  danger.  Without  hesitating  a  second  he  put 
the  spurs  to  his  own  fleet  steed  and  galloped  after  the 
runaways.  Racing  his  horse  at  breakneck  speed,  the 
colored  rider  soon  began  to  gain  on  the  carriage.  It 
seemed  like  a  race  against  death  itself.  Like  Brown- 
ing's famed  rider  who  "  brought  the  good  news  from 
Ghent  to  Aix,"  this  Alabama  negro  "  stood  up  in  the 
stirrups,  leaned,  patted  his  ear,"  while  his  horse,  like  the 
good  Roland,  seemed  to  understand  and 

"  With  his  nostrils  like  pits  full  of  blood  to  the  brim. 
And  with  circles  of  red  for  his  eyesockets'  rim," 

the  negro's  horse  overtook  the  maddened  team. 

With  reckless  daring  the  negro  passed  the  carriage 
and,  holding  on  with  one  hand  to  the  reins  of  his  own 
horse,  he  seized  the  bridle  of  one  of  the  runaways  with 
the  other.  Mr.  Durham  was  astonished  even  in  the 
midst  of  his  excitement  to  see  the  black  angel  of  mercy 
who  was  seeking  his  deliverance,  but  he  trembled  lest 
the  bold  rescuer  should  be  unhorsed. 

"  Let  go,  let  go,"  he  shouted  to  the  horseman. 

But,  clinging  to  his  own  horse  with  the  skill  of  an  In- 
dian, the  negro  began  to  check  the  mad  speed  of  the 
frightened  team.  They  were  nearing  a  curve  of  the  road 
where  there  was  a  bridge  over  a  creek  and  the  negro 
well  knew  the  danger  at  that  point.     Slacking  the  speed 


210  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

of  his  own  well-trained  horse,  he  gradually  gained  con- 
trol over  the  runaways  and  just  a  short  distance  from 
the  bridge  he  brought  them  to  a  standstill. 

Mr.  Durham  stepped  out  of  the  vehicle,  trembling  like 
a  leaf. 

"  I  thank  you,  sir,  I  thank  you,"  he  said,  with  shaking 
voice.     "  You  have  saved  my  life." 

"  I  knew  you  could  never  get  across  this  bridge  in 
safety.  I  am  glad  I  caught  up  in  time,  Mr.  Durham," 
replied  the  negro,  simply. 

"  Is  it  you,  Naf ti  Thomas  ?  "  said  the  minister  in  as- 
tonishment, recognizing  his  negro  savior  as  none  other 
than  the  Harbison  student. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Nafti.  "  I  have  been  out  exercising 
Dr.  Rankin's  horse  and  I  am  glad  I  happened  to  be  on 
this  road  to-day." 

"  God  bless  you,  my  boy,"  said  Mr.  Durham,  brokenly, 
with  the  suspicion  of  a  tear  in  his  eye. 

Nafti  repaired  the  damage  to  the  harness  and  was 
holding  the  horses,  expecting  Mr.  Durham  to  resume  his 
drive,  when  the  minister  remarked,  "  I  do  not  think  I 
will  continue  my  journey.  I  find  I  am  pretty  badly 
shaken  up,  and  I  will  ask  you  to  drive  me  back  to  town." 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  answered  the  youth.  "  This  team 
is  a  lively  one,  and  perhaps  they  might  try  to  run  again. 
I  can  tie  my  horse  behind  your  buggy." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you,"  continued  the  minister, 
"  but  I  am  considerably  unnerved.  It  was  a  narrow  es- 
cape." 

"  It  is  no  trouble  at  all,  Mr.  Durham.  I  am  more 
than  pleased  to  do  it." 

As  they  were  driving  back  to  Dothan,  the  minister  re- 
covered himself  and  began  a  friendly  conversation  with 
Nafti. 


NEW  VIEWS  ON  RACE  QUESTION      211 

"  When  did  you  become  such  a  rider  ?  "  he  asked  the 
youth.  "  No  one  but  an  expert  could  have  performed 
that  feat  of  yours.  I  was  sure  you  were  going  to  break 
your  neck." 

"  Dr.  Rankin  has  taught  me  some  things  about  horse- 
back riding,"  he  responded  with  a  little  embarrassment 
at  the  minister's  praise. 

"  How  is  your  father  getting  on  now  ? "  asked  Mr. 
Durham,  suddenly  becoming  quite  sober. 

"  He  is  not  very  well,"  replied  Nafti,  with  a  tone  of 
sadness  in  his  voice.  "  Right  there,"  he  continued,  point- 
ing to  the  roadside,  "  my  poor  father  was  nearly  killed 
last  spring  and  he  has  never  quite  gotten  over  it.  He 
would  have  died,  only  Jefferson  Lilly,  our  new  Secre- 
tary at  Harbison,  happened  along  this  way  and  brought 
him  to  town." 

The  pastor  of  the  Calvary  Church  of  Dothan  made  no 
reply.  He  was  thinking  of  his  neglect  of  Nafti's  father 
on  the  day  the  poor  black  man  needed  his  help,  and  he 
was  comparing  his  own  conduct  with  Nafti's  self-sacri- 
ficing bravery. 

"  The  negro  is  a  Christian  and  a  gentleman  compared 
with  me,"  said  the  contrite  minister  of  the  Gospel,  speak- 
ing to  himself.  "  I  am  beginning  to  feel  that  Rose  At- 
kinson is  right  after  all.  I  have  not  been  a  representa- 
tive of  Christ  in  my  treatment  of  the  African." 

"  What  is  your  sister,  Martha,  planning  to  do  when 
she  has  finished  her  education  ?  "  Mr.  Durham  asked  a 
little  later. 

"  We  are  both  preparing  to  become  teachers,  and  we 
hope  to  fit  ourselves  for  work  at  Tuskegee  Institute,"  an- 
swered the  colored  youth  somewhat  bashfully. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that,"  said  the  minister,  earnestly. 
"  I  am  convinced  that  the  President  of  Tuskegee  has  a 


212  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

divine  mission  to  your  race.  Ever  since  I  heard  his  ad- 
dress in  Dothan  I  have  been  changing  some  of  my  own 
ideas  about  the  future  of  the  American  negro.  I  wish 
you  and  your  sister  all  success." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Nafti  with  emotion,  for  the 
unexpected  cordiality  of  Mr.  Durham  towards  his  life 
plans  was  a  surprise  to  the  youth,  as  he  well  knew  Mr. 
Durham's  former  attitude  towards  all  efforts  to  uplift 
the  colored  race. 

"  Come  out  to  Harbison  some  day,  Mr.  Durham," 
Nafti  continued.  "  I  know  you  will  appreciate  the  work 
of  Dr.  Furber  in  our  Institute  if  you  were  to  see  it  for 
yourself.  Especially  since  Miss  Atkinson  has  come  to 
Dothan  our  school  has  been  doing  wonders." 

"  I  shall  call  some  day  soon  and  see  your  father,"  said 
the  minister,  without  noticing  the  boy's  cordial  invitation 
to  visit  the  negro  school. 

"  He  will  be  pleased  to  see  you,"  answered  his  colored 
companion,  quickly.  "  He  often  speaks  kindly  of  you, 
Mr.  Durham." 

When  they  reached  the  minister's  home,  he  and  Nafti 
parted  with  a  cordial  handshake,  and  the  pastor  went  to 
his  study  to  meditate  on  the  strange  Providence  of  the 
afternoon.  He  well  remembered  his  return  home  on  the 
day  he  had  passed  by  Nafti's  father  in  contempt.  He  sat 
silent  a  long  time,  deep  in  thought. 

"  The  negro  lad  has  heaped  coals  of  fire  on  my  head," 
he  spoke  aloud,  at  last,  with  a  sob  in  his  voice.  "  Miss 
Atkinson  is  entirely  right.  I  confess  my  sin."  He  rose 
from  his  chair  and  walked  around  the  room  restlessly. 

"  She  is  right,"  he  continued,  still  speaking  aloud. 
"  Before  God,  she  is  right.  I  have  not  been  a  representa- 
tive of  Christ  in  my  abuse  and  neglect  of  the  colored 
race." 


NEW  VIEWS  ON  RACE  QUESTION      213 

The  old  minister,  as  he  said  these  words,  was  over- 
come with  his  emotion  and  bowing  his  head  in  his  hands 
he  gave  way  to  a  flood  of  tears. 

"  Forgive,  forgive,  forgive,"  he  kept  murmuring,  as 
though  speaking  to  someone  in  the  room.  When  he  be- 
came calmer  he  took  up  his  Bible  and  opened  it.  His 
eye  caught  a  verse  in  Romans,  "  We  then  that  are  strong 
ought  to  bear  the  infirmities  of  the  weak." 

"  This  shall  be  the  text  for  my  sermon  next  Sunday 
morning,"  he  exclaimed.  "  I  shall  make  amends  for  my 
life-long  sin.  I  see  it  now  so  plainly.  The  law  of  Christ 
demands  that  we  give  our  sympathy  and  help  to  a  weak 
and  backward  people,  leaving  the  future  with  Him.  In- 
justice and  disobedience  to  the  Christ  can  never  bring 
happiness  to  any  race." 

Then  the  old  minister  knelt  in  his  study  in  long  and 
earnest  prayer. 

It  was  with  great  pleasure  that  Mose  Thomas  greeted 
the  Rev.  William  Durham  the  next  day  when  the  minis- 
ter called  at  the  negro's  home. 

"  Nafti  tol'  me  you  was  comin',  Massa  Durham,"  said 
the  black  man  with  emotion.  "  I'se  sho'  glad  to  see 
you." 

After  the  first  greetings  were  over  the  minister  no- 
ticed that  Martha  Thomas  was  at  home,  and  that  both 
father  and  daughter  seemed  agitated.  They  endeavored 
to  appear  calm,  but  he  knew  that  something  was  wrong. 
After  a  while  Martha  left  the  room,  and  the  two  men  en- 
gaged in  an  earnest  conversation. 

"  I  owe  my  life  to  your  son,  Nafti,"  said  Mr.  Durham, 
as  he  began,  "  and  I  want  to  assure  you  that  I  appreciate 
it.  If  ever  I  can  be  of  any  help  to  you,  Mr.  Thomas,  I 
want  you  to  let  me  know." 

"  Thanks,  Massa  Durham.     I  always  knows  you  was  a 


214  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Christian  man  eber  since  dat  time  I'se  wurked  at  de  par- 
sonage. Fse  do  want  your  help,  Massa.  My  po'  HT 
girl  Martha  is  in  sore  trouble." 

"  What's  wrong  with  Martha  ? "  asked  the  minister 
quickly,  recalling  the  story  that  Rose  had  told  him. 

"  De  po'  girl  is  'fraid  for  her  life,  Massa.  Dat  man 
who  hates  de  po'  darky  race  is  tryin'  to  get  my  Martha." 
The  old  black  man's  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  his  voice 
trembled. 

"  Tell  me  about  it,"  said  Mr.  Durham,  sympathetically. 

Mose  Thomas  then  related  to  the  minister  the  story 
of  Peter  Legree's  first  insult  (about  which,  of  course, 
Mr.  Durham  knew),  and  then  he  went  on  to  tell  of  a 
second  attempt  which  the  "  boss  "  had  made  to  intimidate 
the  girl. 

"  Ma  po'  HT  lamb  didn't  tell  me  de  furst  time,"  said 
the  father  in  conclusion,  "  but  yestaday  he  spoke  to  her 
again,  and  she  tol'  me  all  about  it.  What  can  we  do, 
Massa  ?  " 

The  colored  father  had  an  indescribable  look  of  pain 
and  anxiety  on  his  face,  and  the  pastor  of  Calvary  Church 
was  deeply  stirred.  Before  he  found  words  with  which 
to  answer  the  black  father  a  change  suddenly  came  over 
the  negro.  He  arose  to  his  feet  and  stood  erect.  His 
eyes  were  shining  like  two  balls  of  fire. 

He  struck  his  breast  with  his  left  hand  and  almost 
shouted,  "  I'se  feel  some'in'  inside  dat  tells  me  to  shoot 
dat  Legree  like  a  mad  dog.  I'se  can't  stand  it  no  more, 
Massa  Durham." 

But  the  wild  mood  left  him  as  suddenly  as  it  came. 
He  sank  back  to  his  seat  again  murmuring,  "  I'se  no 
kill  him  for  I'se  a  Christian,  but,  oh,  my  po'  HT  lamb." 

The  minister  could  see  that  the  father's  anguish  over 
his  daughter's  danger  was  unnerving  the  poor  man,  al- 


NEW  VIEWS  ON  RACE  QUESTION      215 

ready  much  broken  in  health,  and  he  began  to  comfort 
and  encourage  his  black-skinned  fellow-mortal. 

"  Do  not  be  afraid,  Mr.  Thomas,"  he  said  tenderly. 
"  God  is  not  dead.  He  will  watch  over  Martha.  Legree 
cannot  harm  her." 

Meanwhile,  Martha  hearing  her  father's  excited  tones 
and  knowing  what  was  the  cause  of  his  emotion,  hurried 
into  the  house  and  threw  herself  on  the  floor  in  front 
of  the  white  minister,  weeping  uncontrollably  and  cry- 
ing, "  Save  me,  Mr.  Durham,  save  me." 

The  old  minister  was  deeply  moved.  No  experience 
he  had  ever  had  during  his  long  ministry  had  touched 
his  heart  as  this  scene. 

He  reached  out  his  hand  and  gently  raised  the  pros- 
trate daughter  of  Africa  to  her  feet.  He  looked  into  her 
tear-stained  black  face  and  said  in  tones  of  terrible  ear- 
nestness : 

"  Fear  not,  Martha.  Before  God  I  swear  that  if  Legree 
touches  a  hair  of  your  head  he  will  have  to  walk  over 
my  dead  body  to  do  it.     I  will  save  you." 

As  he  said  this  he  stood  erect,  noble,  kindly,  strong, 
and  the  impressionable  colored  girl  felt  all  the  dread 
leaving  her  soul.  She  dried  her  tears  and  thanked  him 
warmly,  while  the  father  kept  repeating,  "  God  bless  you, 
Massa  Durham." 

The  minister  left  the  house  of  Mose  Thomas  that  day 
with  every  nerve  of  his  body  tingling  and  his  blood  boil- 
ing. "  The  vile  dog,"  he  said  to  himself,  as  he  thought 
of  Legree,  "  I  am  determined  to  defy  him.  Things  have 
become  intolerable." 

Unable  to  trust  himself  to  see  Legree  again  while  he 
was  alone,  Mr.  Durham  made  his  way  to  Donald  Shelby's 
office.  He  found  the  young  lawyer  in  conversation  with 
Jefferson  Lilly,  and  much  to  Jefferson's  astonishment 


216  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

he  greeted  the  new  Harbison  secretary  with  great  cor- 
diality. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Lilly,"  he  exclaimed.  "  I 
wish  you  to  invite  Dr.  Furber  and  the  Harbison  faculty 
to  Calvary  Church  next  Sunday  morning;  I  think  they 
will  enjoy  the  service." 

Wondering  at  this  invitation  and  surprised  at  the 
change  in  the  minister's  manner,  Jefferson  assured  Mr. 
Durham  that  all  would  be  present  on  the  next  Sunday. 
As  soon  as  Jefferson  had  left  the  office,  Mr.  Durham 
told  Donald  what  Mose  Thomas  had  said  to  him,  and 
finished  by  exclaiming,  "  What  can  be  done,  sir,  to  put 
that  man  behind  prison  bars.  Such  a  man  has  no  right 
to  liberty." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,  Mr.  Durham,"  replied  the  lawyer, 
"  it  is  impossible  to  take  any  legal  steps  to  punish  the 
man,  although  he  richly  deserves  it." 

"  But  I  must  protect  the  girl,"  said  the  minister.  "  Le- 
gree  promised  me  to  let  her  alone  but  he  has  broken  his 
promise.  He  is  drunk  with  the  power  which  the  white 
people  of  this  community  have  given  him  for  years  and 
he  regards  neither  the  laws  of  God  nor  man.  What  can 
I  do?" 

Donald  shook  his  head  sadly. 

"  There  is  only  one  thing  to  do,"  he  answered  slowly, 
"  but  I  find  it  almost  impossible  to  do  it.  We  must 
arouse  the  whites  of  Dothan  to  see  the  awful  depths  of 
civic  rottenness  and  moral  obliquity  of  Legreeism.  This 
race  prejudice  is  responsible  for  it  all.  Without  the? 
spirit  of  racial  hate  to  support  him,  Legree  would  Jos*? 
his  power  at  once  and  his  very  presence  would  not  be! 
tolerated  on  our  streets.  But,  excuse  me,  Mr.  Durham, 
for  I  know  you  do  not  agree  with  me  in  regard  to  this.'* 

"You  are  right,   Mr.   Shelby,  absolutely  right,"  re- 


NEW  VIEWS  ON  RACE  QUESTION      217 

sponded  the  minister,  quickly,  while  Donald  opened  his 
eyes  in  amazement.  "  I  have  come  at  last  to  see,"  went 
on  Mr.  Durham,  "  that  your  position  is  not  only  correct 
but  that  our  awful  race  problem  can  be  solved  in  no 
other  way  than  by  exercising  a  spirit  the  exact  opposite 
of  all  that  Legree  stands  for.  Miss  Atkinson  is  right. 
May  God  forgive  me  for  being  blind  so  long.  I  acknowl- 
edge I  have  sinned  deeply  against  the  Southland  by 
my  own  example,  but  it  was  through  ignorance  that  I 
did  it." 

"  Bravo,  bravo,"  shouted  Donald,  leaping  to  his  feet 
and  grasping  the  minister's  hand.  "  The  victory  is  ours. 
Since  you  have  come  to  see  things  in  that  light  the  down- 
fall of  Legreeism  is  at  hand.  When  the  church  takes 
this  stand  all  over  the  South  our  race  problem  is  solved 
forever." 

"  I  will  show  you  that  I  am  in  deep  earnest  in  my 
new  views  on  this  question  next  Sunday  morning,"  said 
Mr.  Durham,  emphatically. 

"  I  will  surely  be  there,"  replied  Donald,  with  enthu- 
siasm, "  and  I  will  spread  the  news  around  town  that 
you  are  to  speak  on  the  race  question.  You  will  have  a 
large  audience,  I  assure  you." 

"  But  how  about  Martha  Thomas  ?  I  promised  to 
save  her,"  said  the  minister,  with  a  troubled  look. 

"  Leave  her  case  with  me,"  responded  Donald,  quickly. 
"  I  shall  threaten  Legree  with  a  complaint  to  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State  if  he  insults  her  again." 

"  May  God  forgive  us  all  for  nourishing  this  viper  in 
our  midst  so  long,"  said  Mr.  Durham,  as  he  departed. 

"  Next  Sunday  will  mark  an  epoch  in  Dothan,"  said 
Donald  to  himself  after  the  minister  had  gone.  "  Per- 
haps even  Florence  Ashley  may  be  converted  and  poor 
Jefferson  will  take  hope  once  more." 


218  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Through  Donald  Shelby's  efforts  the  entire  community 
soon  knew  that  Rev.  William  Durham  would  set  forth 
new  views  on  the  race  question  the  following  Sunday 
and  everyone  was  on  the  tiptoe  of  expectancy,  for  the 
race  question  is  a  live  subject  in  Dothan. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

A   LONG-REMEMBERED    SERMON 

It  was  on  Sunday  morning  and  the  Calvary  Church 
was  crowded.  Never  had  such  a  congregation  gathered 
within  its  walls  before.  When  the  service  began  every 
seat  was  taken  and  the  aisles  and  vestibule  were  thronged. 
A  tense  feeling  was  in  the  atmosphere  and  all  were 
awaiting  eagerly  Rev.  William  Durham's  sermon  on  the 
race  question,  as  it  had  been  rumored  on  all  sides  that 
he  was  going  to  say  some  startling  things. 

Deacon  Leavitt  sat  in  his  pew  near  the  front  with  a 
puzzled  expression  on  his  face.  He  was  undecided  as 
to  the  wisdom  of  the  minister's  course,  for  Mr.  Durham 
had  confided  to  him  the  nature  of  his  sermon.  The 
good  deacon  feared  that  the  church  would  be  disrupted. 
Mr.  Ashley  with  a  stern  look  gazed  fixedly  at  the  pastor 
when  the  white-haired  minister  ascended  the  pulpit  stairs. 
Ever  since  the  college  professor  had  convinced  him  that 
the  negroes  were  not  members  of  the  human  family, 
Mr.  Ashley  had  become  an  extremist  on  the  race  ques- 
tion. Accepting  the  theory  that  the  negroes  were  mere 
brutes,  he  had  become  one  of  Legree's  most  ardent  sup- 
porters. 

Peter  Legree  had  overtaken  the  Ashley  family  as  they 
were  walking  to  church  that  morning  and  accompanied 
them  to  the  sacred  edifice.  He  beamed  on  Florence  but 
that  young  lady  evidently  was  seeking  to  avoid  him,  as 

219 


220  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

she  managed  to  get  beside  her  mother  and  compelled  the 
"  boss  "  to  walk  along  with  Mr.  Ashley. 

"  Our  old  preacher  is  going  to  make  a  fool  of  himself 
this  morning,"  remarked  Legree  after  the  first  greetings 
were  over. 

"  I  am  beginning  to  think  seriously  that  Mr.  Durham 
has  outlived  his  usefulness  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel 
in  Dothan,"  replied  Mr.  Ashley  with  a  frown. 

"  It  is  that  cursed  nigger  school,  Harbison,  that  has 
fooled  him  as  well  as  a  lot  of  others  in  this  town,"  re- 
sponded the  "  boss  "  with  animation. 

Just  then  around  the  corner  came  the  entire  faculty 
of  Harbison,  walking  to  church  in  a  body,  President  and 
Mrs.  Furber  leading  the  procession.  Immediately  be- 
hind them  came  Jefferson  Lilly  and  Rose  Atkinson. 

Peter  Legree  gnashed  his  teeth  in  rage.  "  There  they 
go,"  he  hissed.  "  That  Yankee  teacher  and  that  crazy 
dude,  Lilly,  are  a  nice  pair  to  be  running  things  in  Do- 
than." 

When  Florence  saw  her  former  lover  walking  by  the 
side  of  the  fair  Northerner,  both  of  them  engaged  in 
an  animated  conversation,  she  became  pale  and  almost 
staggered,  saving  herself  by  grasping  her  mother's  arm. 

"  What's  the  matter,  Florence  ? "  asked  her  mother, 
looking  around  anxiously.  "  Oh,  nothing,"  she  replied, 
but  her  pale  face  and  her  agitation  contradicted  her 
speech,  and  Mrs.  Ashley's  quick  eye  soon  discerned  what 
had  caused  her  daughter's  emotion. 

"  What  a  merciful  thing  that  you  threw  off  that  fellow 
when  you  did,"  said  Mrs.  Ashley,  looking  across  the 
street  at  Jefferson.    "  He  is  a  traitor  to  the  South." 

Poor  Florence  could  not  trust  herself  to  reply. 

At  the  door  of  the  church  the  Ashley  family  and  Le- 
gree met  the  Harbison  faculty  face  to  face. 


A  LONG-REMEMBERED  SERMON  221 

Ignoring  Legree,  Jefferson  lifted  his  hat  politely  to 
the  Ashleys,  and  tried  to  win  a  glance  from  Florence, 
but  she  kept  her  eyes  on  the  ground  and  made  no  re- 
sponse to  his  salutation.  When  she  was  seated  in  the 
choir  loft  Jefferson  noticed  the  pallor  on  her  cheek  and 
he  could  not  help  feeling  assured  that  the  girl  was  suf- 
fering as  well  as  himself. 

The  faculty  of  Harbison  sat  together  near  the  front, 
to  the  right  of  the  pulpit,  Jefferson  and  Rose  sitting  side 
by  side.  Many  in  the  church  turned  their  eyes  on  these 
"  nigger  teachers,"  as  Legree  contemptuously  called 
them,  and  gazed  with  admiration  on  the  noble-looking 
Jefferson  and  the  fair  Rose. 

"  A  fine  couple,  are  they  not  ?  "  whispered  Dr.  Rankin 
to  Deacon  Leavitt,  who  sat  in  front  of  him.  Dr.  Rankin 
had  taken  an  intense  interest  in  Jefferson  Lilly  ever  since 
the  first  strange  meeting  in  Larkin's  Hotel  and,  as  he 
noticed  the  good  deacon  looking  earnestly  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Harbison  teachers,  he  leaned  forward  and 
made  this  remark. 

"  I  like  the  looks  of  that  whole  Harbison  crowd,"  re- 
sponded the  deacon  in  a  whisper.  "  They  make  one  think 
of  real  Christians." 

Just  then  Deacon  Leavitt  turned  his  face  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Peter  Legree  and  caught  sight  of  that  gentleman 
scowling  in  rage  as  he  glared  at  the  teachers.  "  Watch 
Legree,"  he  continued.  "  He  will  have  to  swallow  some 
bitter  medicine  to-day,  I  am  thinking." 

"  It  will  be  good  for  him,"  answered  Dr.  Rankin. 

The  opening  parts  of  that  memorable  service  were 
conducted  by  Mr.  Durham  with  a  quietness  and  humility 
of  manner  that  was  unusual.  The  opening  hymn  was 
significant.  Before  they  sang  it,  the  minister  read  with 
deep  feeling  the  words  of  the  first  verse: 


222  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  The  morning  light  is  breaking, 
The  darkness  disappears, 
The  sons  of  earth  are  waking 
In  penitential  tears." 

When  the  time  came  for  the  sermon  the  excitement 
amongst  the  crowded  congregation  was  intense.  There 
was  a  breathless  silence  as  Mr.  Durham  began,  "  You 
will  find  my  text  in  Romans,  the  fifteenth  chapter  and 
the  first  verse,  '  We  then  that  are  strong  ought  to  bear 
the  infirmities  of  the  weak.' " 

After  announcing  his  text,  the  preacher  paused  and 
looked  around  the  congregation.  He  saw  the  delighted 
look  which  had  come  over  the  faces  of  the  Harbison 
teachers  as  soon  as  he  announced  the  text.  He  noticed 
also  the  puzzled  expression  in  Deacon  Leavitt's  face, 
and  the  angry  scowl  of  hate  which  was  evident  on  the 
face  of  Peter  Legree.  He  glanced  in  the  direction  of 
the  Waynor  pew  and  saw  they  were  listening  intently, 
while  the  Ashleys,  with  haughty  mien,  affected  indiffer- 
ence. The  great  body  of  the  congregation  were  leaning 
forward,  making  no  effort  to  conceal  their  excitement. 

Rev.  William  Durham  well  knew  he  had  reached  a 
crisis  in  his  life,  but  he  had  counted  the  cost  and  went 
forward  with  calm  determination.  He  began  in  a  quiet 
manner,  referring  to  his  long  pastorate  and  his  pleasant 
relations  with  the  members  of  the  church.  He  spoke 
of  his  own  early  days,  the  ruin  which  the  war  had  brought 
to  the  South,  the  fearful  scourge  of  the  eight  dark  years 
of  reconstruction,  far  more  terrible  and  costly  than  the 
four  years  of  war.  He  told  of  Alabama's  gradual  rise 
from  poverty  to  wealth. 

"  We  are  beginning  a  new  era  in  this  glorious  com- 
monwealth of  ours,"  he  exclaimed.     "  It  is  high  time 


A  LONG-REMEMBERED  SERMON  223 

for  us  to  forget  the  past  and  reach  forth  into  the  future." 
He  then  began  to  speak  on  the  race  question. 

A  stillness  that  was  death-like  pervaded  the  church. 
The  fall  of  a  pin  could  have  been  heard  distinctly. 

"  We  have  been  accustomed,"  went  on  the  preacher, 
with  increasing  animation,  "  to  blame  all  our  troubles 
in  the  Southland  on  the  unfortunate  negro  race.  All 
my  life  I  have  done  so  myself.  You  have  heard  my 
brother,  John,  recently  speak  in  the  old-fashioned  way 
about  the  colored  people  and  you  well  know  I  held  like 
views  myself.  But  I  want  to  confess  to-day  that,  like 
Paul  at  Damascus,  I  have  seen  a  great  light.  I  pray 
God  to  forgive  my  long  years  of  ignorance."  Up  to 
this  point  Mr.  Durham  had  carried  his  entire  audience 
with  him,  but  as  he  uttered  these  words  a  feeling  of  un- 
easiness crept  over  the  congregation.  The  minister  saw 
it,  but  he  heeded  it  not  and  with  increasing  fervor  he 
continued,  "  I  have  suddenly  awakened  to  find  out  that 
racial  hate  is  debauching  our  beloved  Southland,  white 
and  black  alike.  I  have  been  convinced  that  the  attempt 
on  the  part  of  some  of  the  whites  to  keep  the  negro  in 
ignorance  threatens  our  Southland  with  mulattoism,  for 
I  have  seen  how  the  color  line  is  lost  when  the  white 
man  uses  his  strength,  not  to  help,  but  to  depress,  the 
weaker  race." 

At  this  bold  thrust  Peter  Legree  started  from  his  seat. 
His  face  was  discolored  with  rage,  but  he  sank  back  as 
the  preacher  went  on,  "  I  could  give  you  local  facts  to 
prove  my  point  that  would  make  the  very  atones  of  this 
church  cry  out  for  shame,  but  for  the  present  I  forbear." 

The  speaker  paused  a  moment  and  then  continued  in  a 
gentler  voice,  "  Brethren,  we  that  are  strong  ought  to 
bear  the  infirmities  of  the  weak.     Have  we  not  been 


224  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

looking  at  this  whole  race  question  from  the  standpoint 
of  pagans  instead  of  Christians.  The  fancied  danger 
of  social  equality,  which  has  been  the  nightmare  of  my 
own  life,  has  blinded  our  eyes  to  the  plainest  truths. 
There  is  no  unavoidable  danger  to  the  South  in  the 
presence  of  the  negro.  He  was  brought  here  by  the 
crime  of  the  white  man  but  it  was  the  Providence  of 
God." 

As  the  congregation  listened  to  these  words  they  could 
scarcely  believe  their  ears.  They  looked  closely  at  the 
speaker  to  see  if  it  was  Rev.  William  Durham,  brother 
of  John  Durham  of  Hambright,  who  was  really  address- 
ing them.  In  a  dazed  condition  the  people  listened  while 
their  minister  kept  on,  "  I  now  firmly  believe  in  the 
negro's  final,  complete  and  peaceful  incorporation  into 
the  American  system  without  injury  to  himself  or  his 
white  neighbor.  The  only  negro  the  South  dreads  to- 
day is  the  brutal,  ignorant,  criminal  negro,  but  the  Gospel 
of  Christ,  in  which  we  all  believe,  is  the  power  of  God 
unto  salvation  even  to  the  negro  if  we,  who  are  strong, 
are  Christ-like  enough  to  bear  the  infirmities  of  the 
weak." 

Dr.  Furber  had  been  listening  with  amazement  and 
delight  to  the  words  of  the  minister.  At  this  point  he 
could  restrain  himself  no  longer  and  a  loud  "  Amen  " 
resounded  from  his  lips. 

The  faces  of  the  congregation  were  a  study.  Some 
of  them  were  evidently  enraged.  Legree's  frown  be- 
came fiercer  and  fiercer  until  he  was  now  glaring  at  the 
preacher  with  the  ferocity  of  a  tiger.  Mr.  Ashley's  eyes 
shone  with  an  indignant  light  and  several  times  he  was 
at  the  point  of  rising  and  leaving  the  church,  only  that 
he  knew  the  crowd  hopelessly  blocked  the  way.  In  the 
choir  Florence  Ashley,  pale  and  weary-looking,  but  hold- 


A  LONG-REMEMBERED  SERMON         225 

ing  her  head  high  in  haughty  disdain,  showed  her  marked 
displeasure. 

The  presence  of  Jefferson  and  Rose  Atkinson,  sitting 
side  by  side,  and  both  evidently  enraptured  with  the 
sermon,  was  a  much  harder  trial,  however,  than  Mr. 
Durham's  words  in  the  case  of  the  Southern  beauty. 

"  That  bold  Yankee  teacher  imagines  this  is  her  great 
triumph,"  said  Florence  Ashley  to  herself,  "  but  both 
she  and  Mr.  Durham  will  soon  find  out  that  Calvary 
Church  wants  none  of  this  foolish  negro  nonsense." 
But  down  in  her  heart  she  felt  it  was  a  victory  for 
Harbison  and  for  Rose,  and  a  bitterness,  that  was  almost 
hatred,  filled  her  soul,  even  in  the  sacred  place  of  wor- 
ship. 

"  She  is  to  blame  for  Jefferson's  mad  folly,"  poor 
Florence  went  on,  speaking  to  herself,  as  she  bit  her  lip 
and  glanced  at  her  Northern  rival  when  Dr.  Furber 
aroused  the  audience  with  his  loud  "  Amen." 

Without  noticing  the  interruption  of  the  President  of 
Harbison  Institute,  Mr.  Durham  went  on  earnestly, 
"  My  friend  and  fellow-Southerner,  President  Kilgo, 
of  Trinity  College,  Durham,  North  Carolina,  recently 
said,  '  Among  the  problems  that  have  been  thrust  into 
prominence  within  the  past  few  years  is  what  is  called 
the  race  problem.  One  thing  is  certain  —  the  race  ques- 
tion is  a  moral  question,  it  is  the  question  of  the  right 
of  a  human  being  to  rise  from  the  lower  points  of  life  to 
the  higher  levels  of  it.  This  is  the  same  problem  at 
which  all  people  have  worked,  and  at  which  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  race  must  continue  to  work.  So  the  negro  finds 
himself  at  a  low  point  in  the  scale  of  life,  and,  true  to 
the  voice  of  the  human  soul,  he  wants  to  go  up  higher, 
not  that  he  may  go  into  the  society  of  other  races,  but 
that  he  may  be  fit  to  associate  with  himself.     In  the  su- 


226  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

preme  struggle  the  politician  will  reach  no  hand  out  to 
him,  the  social  spirit  will  give  no  help,  the  industrial 
spirit  will  lend  no  assistance,  but  the  God-spirit  should 
speak  to  him  a  helping  word,  and  reach  out  to  him  a 
lifting  hand.  This  race  issue  will  test  the  moral  quality 
of  this  nation,  and  if  it  finds  no  settlement,  the  failure 
will  be  a  moral  failure,  and  show  the  point  at  which 
our  civilization  broke  down  for  the  lack  of  moral 
strength/  " 

When  Mr.  Durham  had  finished  this  quotation  from 
the  well-known  Southern  educator,  it  could  plainly  be 
seen  that  the  majority  of  the  congregation  were  listening 
again  with  intense  and  eager  interest,  and  that  the  old 
minister  was  winning  them  over  by  the  score  to  his  new- 
found views  on  the  whole  race  problem.  The  preacher, 
with  the  practiced  eye  of  a  public  speaker,  saw  that  he 
was  making  an  impression  and  he  finished  his  discourse 
with  a  strong  plea  that  in  the  future  all  should  treat 
the  negro  race  kindly  and  justly,  as  a  child-race  ought  to 
be  treated. 

"  I  believe,"  he  exclaimed,  with  a  burst  of  eloquence, 
"  that  God  in  His  Providence  brought  the  negro  to 
America  in  order  to  try  the  patience,  the  strength,  and 
the  Christian  character  of  the  Anglo-Saxon.  Let  us  not 
fail.  The  world  looks  to  us.  Justice,  self-preservation 
and  Christianity  call  on  us  to  take  our  stand  with  those 
who  are  seeking  the  uplift  of  the  colored  race  in  the 
South." 

The  benediction  was  pronounced,  and  the  immense 
congregation  swarmed  out  on  the  street. 

The  sensation  made  by  this  espousal  of  the  negro 
cause  by  Mr.  Durham  was  tremendous,  but  recent  events 
had  prepared  many  of  the  people  to  accept  his  new  views, 
and  it  was  evident  that  the  great  majority  went  away 


A  LONG-REMEMBERED  SERMON         227 

with  an  awed  feeling  that,  like  the  people  of  Drum- 
tochty,  "  they  had  heard  a  message  from  the  Lord." 

Not  so,  however,  with  the  Ashleys  and  with  Peter 
Legree.  The  "  boss  "  had  been  invited  to  dinner  that 
day  at  the  Ashley  home,  and  he  accompanied  the  family 
as  they  left  the  church. 

"  That's  a  nice  kind  of  a  sermon  for  old  Durham  to 
preach,  isn't  it  ?  "  said  Legree  to  Mr.  Ashley,  when  they 
had  separated  themselves  somewhat  from  the  crowd. 

"  We'll  have  to  silence  the  old  man,"  answered  Mr. 
Ashley  with  a  frown.  "  I  always  liked  Mr.  Durham, 
but  such  a  harangue  as  he  gave  us  this  morning  is  trea- 
son to  the  South.  It  was  an  outrage  on  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  race." 

"  I  think  I  understand  what  has  come  over  the 
preacher,"  said  Legree,  with  a  knowing  look.  "  He  is 
going  wrong  in  more  ways  than  one.  He  has  been  call- 
ing around  on  that  nigger,  Mose  Thomas.  You  know 
Martha  Thomas  is  a  likely  nigger  wench.  I  think  that's 
the  trouble,"  and  Legree  rolled  his  eyes  piously. 

"  Don't  mention  such  a  thing,"  hastily  replied  Mr. 
Ashley,  with  an  expression  of  horror.  "  Mr.  Durham 
is  a  Christian  gentleman." 

Legree  laughed  contemptuously.  "  Durham  is  no  bet- 
ter than  anybody  else  and  these  female  niggers  need 
watching.  Mark  my  words.  The  old  man  has  gone 
wrong." 

Mr.  Ashley  was  astounded.  He  did  not  dream  that 
Legree  could  so  foully  slander  a  venerable  minister  of 
the  Gospel,  and  he  began  to  think  there  must  be  some 
grounds  for  the  dark  hints  of  the  "  boss."  Besides,  the 
radical  change  in  Mr.  Durham's  views  on  the  negro  ques- 
tion were  proof  that  in  some  way  the  minister  had  slipped 
from  his  moorings. 


228  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

**  I  shall  get  a  number  of  our  influential  people  to- 
gether at  once,"  said  Mr.  Ashley.  "  The  scandal  must 
be  hushed  and  Mr.  Durham  must  leave  Dothan." 

"  The  root  of  all  our  troubles  is  that  nigger  school, 
Harbison,"  went  on  Legree.  "  We  must  drive  out  these 
white  niggers.  Since  Booker  T.  was  here  this  is  getting 
to  be  a  black  man's  town." 

After  dinner,  Peter  Legree  and  Florence  were  left 
alone  in  the  parlor. 

The  "  boss  "  had  been  making  a  desperate  effort  to 
win  the  belle  of  Dothan,  but  Florence  Ashley  had  steadily 
repulsed  him,  almost  with  contempt.  Seeing  how  in- 
censed the  girl  was  at  Mr.  Durham's  sermon,  and  finding 
that  their  complete  harmony  in  regard  to  the  Afro- 
American  made  them  somewhat  congenial  friends  that 
day,  Legree  thought  that  the  moment  was  auspicious. 
He  felt  that  Jefferson  Lilly  during  his  first  visit  to  Do- 
than had  gained  a  place  in  the  affections  of  Florence, 
and  that  her  rebuffs  to  his  attentions  were  the  result  of 
this  favor  with  which  she  regarded  Donald  Shelby's 
friend.  Accordingly,  he  began  to  sneer  at  the  Harbison 
faculty,  and  especially  at  Jefferson  and  Rose.  "  I  expect 
that  when  they  marry,"  he  said,  laughing  contemptuously, 
"  they  will  join  the  darky  church." 

"  I  did  not  know  that  they  were  going  to  be  married," 
responded  Florence  with  a  strained  voice.  Legree  no- 
ticed also  a  pallor  come  to  her  cheek.  "  I  hear  that  they 
are  engaged,"  went  on  her  admirer,  lying  in  a  most  facile 
way.  "  I  am  really  surprised  myself,  for  I  expected  both 
of  them  to  marry  negroes." 

Florence  frowned  and  was  silent,  and  Legree  changed 
the  subject.  A  little  later  he  drew  his  chair  close  to 
the  side  of  the  girl,  and  speaking  in  low,  sentimental 
tones,  he  whispered,  "  Miss  Ashley,  I  have  waited  for  you 


A  LONG-REMEMBERED  SERMON  229 

a  long  time.  Since  we  are  so  united  in  our  views  on  the 
great  question  of  the  South  we  can  be  happy  together. 
Won't  you  be  mine  ?  " 

Florence  Ashley  looked  at  him.  She  compared  his 
bullet  head,  low  brow  and  groveling  expression  with 
the  manly  figure  and  noble  bearing  of  Jefferson  Lilly 
on  that  memorable  day  of  her  automobile  ride.  A  feel- 
ing of  disgust  for  the  man  beside  her  arose  in  her  heart. 
At  the  same  time  there  came  to  her,  in  spite  of  herself, 
a  longing  tenderness  towards  the  one  who  apparently 
had  cast  her  off  for  the  sake  of  a  Yankee  teacher  in  a 
negro  school.  -Her  conflicting  emotions  almost  over- 
powered her,  but  she  retained  enough  self-control  to  rise 
and  say  with  emphasis,  "  Mr.  Legree,  I  never  want  you 
to  speak  to  me  on  this  subject  again.  I  beg  you  to  ex- 
cuse me.     I  hear  my  mother  coming." 

She  arose  hastily  and  left  her  astonished  suitor  just 
as  Mrs.  Ashley  entered  the  parlor.  Going  upstairs,  Flor- 
ence locked  herself  in  her  own  room,  threw  herself  into  a 
chair,  and  finally  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  "  Jeffer- 
son, Jefferson,"  she  cried  despairingly,  "  I  can  never 
give  you  up."  If  only  Jefferson  Lilly  had  known  this 
—  but  Florence  Ashley  was  not  by  any  means  the  first 
white  woman  whose  life  the  negro  question  had  blighted. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
A  man's  good  name 

The  excitement  produced  in  Dothan  by  Rev.  William 
Durham's  sermon  on  the  race  question  was  almost  equal 
to  the  stir  which  Martin  Luther's  Ninety-Five  Theses 
made  when  he  nailed  them  to  the  door  of  the  Castle 
Church  in  Wittenberg.  Not  only  in  Dothan,  but  all 
over  Alabama  his  sermon  was  discussed.  It  is  true  the 
minister  had  said  nothing  new  or  startling,  for  he  simply 
endorsed  the  well-known  teachings  of  Booker  T.  Wash- 
ington, and  of  many  others,  white  and  black,  who  for 
years  have  contended  that  the  white  man  ought  to  ex- 
tend a  helping  hand  to  the  dark-skinned,  ignorant  child- 
race  of  the  Southland.  But  for  the  minister  of  the  Cal- 
vary Church  of  Dothan  to  advocate  the  cause  of  the 
negro,  as  Rev.  William  Durham  had  done,  was  as  strange 
and  startling  as  for  a  persecuting  Saul  to  turn  Chris- 
tian, or  a  Jerry  McAuley  to  leave  his  accustomed  place 
in  New  York  "  underworld  "  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  a 
Christian  pulpit. 

Letters  poured  in  on  him  from  his  friends,  to  his  great 
astonishment,  cheering  him  with  cordial  endorsement  of 
his  new  attitude  and  assuring  him  that  the  Southern 
whites  endorsed  his  views,  and  that  the  time  had  come 
for  all  to  rise  above  racial  hate  and  an  absurd  fear  of 
negro  supremacy. 

But  there  was  one  letter  that  wounded  the  minister 
of  the  Calvary  Church.  It  was  from  his  brother,  Rev. 
John  Durham  of  Hambright,  and  it  read  as  follows : 

230 


A  MAN'S  GOOD  NAME  231 

"Rev.  William  Durham,  Dothan,  Ala.: 

"  Sir  :  To  say  I  am  disgusted  with  your  negro  talk 
as  it  is  reported  in  the  papers  is  to  put  it  mildly.  I 
feel  myself  disgraced.  Marry  a  black  wife,  as  it  is  re- 
ported you  are  going  to  do,  and  you  will  then  complete 
your  infamy.  Your  mad  folly  of  endorsing  Booker 
T.  means  ruin  to  the  South.  We  are  brothers  no  longer. 
I  want  no  more  of  your  society. 

"John  Durham." 

But  William  Durham  quietly  stood  his  ground.  He 
was  a  man  of  strong  character,  and,  once  he  had  made 
up  his  mind  to  champion  a  cause,  no  power  on  earth  or 
beneath  it  could  turn  him  back.  He  was  now  fully  con- 
vinced that  an  educated  and  hopeful  negro  race  was  the 
salvation  of  the  Southland,  white  and  black  alike,  and  he 
went  on  his  way  fearlessly.  He  was  delighted  to  find 
that  the  best  Southerners  sympathized  with  him. 

Being  a  man  of  literary  tastes,  Mr.  Durham  was 
charmed  with  the  poems  of  Paul  Lawrence  Dunbar, 
which  he  now  read  for  the  first  time.  He  had  often 
wished  to  read  his  verses  before,  but  his  contempt  for 
the  black  race  had  prevented  him  from  seeming  to  give 
them  any  encouragement  by  noticing  their  poet.  Hav- 
ing no  such  scorn  now  in  his  heart  for  a  man  just  be- 
cause he  was  black,  he  began  to  study  the  negro  poet's 
verse.  "  This  is  wonderful,"  he  said  to  himself  one 
day  in  his  study  after  perusing  Dunbar's  poem  on  "  Con- 
science." 

"  Good-bye,"  I  said  to  my  conscience  — 
"  Good-bye  for  aye  and  aye," 

And  I  put  her  hands  off  harshly, 

And  turned  my   face  away; 

And  conscience   sorely  smitten 

Returned  not  from  that  day. 


232  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

But  a  time  came  when  my  spirit 

Grew  weary  of  its  pace; 

And  I  cried :     "  Come  back,  my  conscience ; 

I  long  to  see  thy  face." 

And  conscience  cried  :     "  I  cannot ; 

Remorse  sits  in  my  place." 

"  Nothing  in  the  English  language  portrays  the  truth 
about  a  man's  conscience  with  more  insight  than  that," 
exclaimed  the  pastor  of  Calvary  Church.  He  was  still 
more  charmed  as  he  read  the  dialect  poems  of  the  gifted 
negro.  "  William  Dean  Howells  was  right,  after  all," 
he  exclaimed  after  he  had  read  "  Accountability,"  recall- 
ing to  mind  a  sentence  that  Howells  had  written  about 
Dunbar  (which  had  formerly  disgusted  him)  but  which 
he  now  remembered  with  approval.  "  These,"  said 
Howells,  speaking  of  the  dialect  poems  of  Paul  Law- 
rence Dunbar,  "  these  are  divinations  and  reports  of  what 
passes  in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  a  lowly  people  whose 
poetry  had  hitherto  been  inarticulately  expressed  in 
music,  but  now  finds  for  the  first  time  in  our  tongue, 
literary  interpretations  of  a  very  artistic  completeness." 

But  the  act  in  Mr.  Durham's  life  which  showed  he  had 
completely  broken  with  the  past  in  regard  to  the  negro 
question  was  his  visit  to  Harbison  Institute.  Accepting 
a  cordial  invitation  from  Jefferson  Lilly,  he  drove  out 
there  a  few  days  after  his  epoch-making  sermon.  He 
was  taken  over  the  entire  institution  by  President  Furber, 
who  explained  to  him  all  their  hopes  and  plans.  The 
old  minister  made  little  comment,  but  with  looks  of 
eager  interest  he  observed  everything  in  connection  with 
the  school. 

"  There  is  certainly  nothing  here  which  a  Christian 
man  can  object  to,"  was  his  comment  when  his  visit  to  the 
industrial    department   was   finished.     Dr.    Furber   was. 


A  MAN'S  GOOD  NAME  233 

overjoyed.  He  suspended  all  the  classes  and  gathered 
the  students  in  a  body  into  the  chapel  and  asked  Mr. 
Durham  to  address  them.  His  talk  was  very  brief  but 
earnest  and  helpful. 

"  God  has  a  work  for  everybody,"  he  began.  "  He 
has  a  place  for  all  of  you  in  His  beautiful  world,  and  if 
you  make  the  most  of  your  opportunities  here  in  Har- 
bison every  one  of  you  will  become  a  blessing  to  our  be- 
loved Southland."  The  applause  of  the  negro  boys  and 
girls  to  this  sentiment  was  tremendous.  On  his  way 
back  to  town,  Mr.  Durham  said  to  himself  again  and  again, 
"  God  has  truly  opened  my  eyes.  I  now  clearly  see  that 
our  Heavenly  Father  has  ordained  the  development  of 
the  negro  just  the  same  as  He  ordained  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Anglo-Saxon." 

On  the  following  Sabbath  both  Jefferson  Lilly  and 
Rose  Atkinson  became  members  of  the  Calvary  Church. 
Rose  Atkinson  brought  a  church  letter  from  Pittsburg, 
but  Jefferson  Lilly  united  on  profession  of  his  faith  in 
Christ.  As  the  two  young  people  stood  up  together  to 
be  received  into  membership,  Florence  Ashley,  with 
pallid  cheek,  gazed  upon  them  with  conflicting  emotions. 
At  last  a  steely  glare  came  into  her  eyes  and  she  hissed 
to  herself,  "  I  hate  her.  She  plans  to  ruin  the  whole 
Southland  just  as  she  has  ruined  my  life." 

The  reception  of  these  members  of  the  Harbison  fac- 
ulty brought  matters  to  a  crisis  in  the  church.  Mr.  Ash- 
ley, Peter  Legree,  and  a  few  others  gathered  together  as 
many  of  the  members  as  they  could  find  who  were  op- 
posed to  the  new  policy  of  Mr.  Durham.  They  were 
surprised  and  chagrined  to  find  that  the  number  they 
could  muster  was  so  small  in  comparison  with  the  total 
membership  of  the  church.  The  great  majority  of  the 
members  seemed  to  quietly  acquiesce  in  the  new  views 


234  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

and  many  openly  declared  that  Booker  T.  Washington's 
visit  to  Dothan  had  already  changed  their  own  views  in 
regard  to  the  negro. 

However,  Mr.  Durham's  enemies  made  up  in  their  in- 
tensity of  opposition  to  him  for  their  numerical  weakness. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  see  the  minister  at  once 
and  to  demand  his  resignation.  Dark  words  about  Mr. 
Durham's  character  were  also  passed  around  at  this 
meeting.  Never  before  had  the  shadow  of  a  shade  rested 
on  his  fair  name,  but  now  this  little  company  of  aggrieved 
church  members  greedily  accepted  the  base  insinuations 
and  they  solemnly  determined  that  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity made  the  retirement  of  the  minister  an  impera- 
tive and  immediate  necessity. 

The  committee,  which  was  composed  of  Mr.  Ashley, 
Legree,  Larkin,  and  three  other  kindred  spirits,  called 
at  once  on  the  old  minister.  They  filed  in  silence  into  the 
study  and  seated  themselves.  Mr.  Durham  well  knew 
the  reason  for  their  visit,  but  he  greeted  them  cheer- 
fully and  inquired,  "  What  can  I  do  for  you  gentlemen 
to-day?" 

There  was  a  painful  silence.  When  face  to  face  with 
the  kindly,  noble-looking  preacher  of  the  Gospel  no  one 
wanted  to  speak. 

At  last  Mr.  Ashley  cleared  his  throat  and  began,  "  We 
have  called  to  see  you,  Mr.  Durham,  on  a  mission  that 
is  very  painful  to  us  all."  Here  he  paused  and  looked 
around  helplessly  at  the  others.  Legree's  scowl  seemed 
to  encourage  him  and  he  continued,  "  The  fact  is  we 
have  come  as  a  committee  to  ask  for  your  resignation  as 
pastor  of  the  Calvary  Church.  Your  usefulness  in  Do- 
than is  clearly  ended." 

Mr.  Durham  smiled  a  little  and  asked  quietly,  "  Whom 
do  you  represent  —  the  entire  congregation  ?  " 


A  MAN'S  GOOD  NAME  235 

"  No,  not  all  of  them,"  stammered  Mr.  Ashley,  con- 
fused by  the  minister's  smile  and  question. 

**  I  must  refuse  at  this  time,"  replied  Mr.  Durham, 
quietly  but  with  intense  earnestness,  u  to  entertain  any 
such  request  as  you  make  unless  it  come  from  the  entire 
congregation." 

"  Mr.  Durham,  we  do  not  want  a  scandal,"  responded 
Mr.  Ashley,  gaining  confidence  in  himself.  "  This  negro 
folly  of  yours  has  aroused  bitter  enmity  against  you  and 
a  scandal  is  imminent.  We  come  to  you  as  your  friends, 
Mr.  Durham." 

"  No  scandal  ever  came  to  any  church  which  followed 
its  divine  Lord,"  answered  the  minister,  gravely.  "  In 
this  '  negro  folly,'  as  you  call  it,  we  are  only  following 
Him." 

"  Calvary  Church  will  never  endure  such  treason 
against  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  in  its  pulpit,"  replied  Mr. 
Ashley,  somewhat  nettled.  The  other  members  of  the 
committee  nodded  their  heads  in  emphatic  approval. 

The  old  minister  rose  to  his  feet.  "  When  Calvary 
Church  refuses  to  listen  to  the  principles  of  justice  and 
Christianity,"  he  began,  speaking  slowly,  as  in  a  reverie, 
"  the  church  will  not  need  to  ask  for  my  resignation. 
As  a  minister  of  Christ  I  should  decline  to  officiate  in 
a  synagogue  of  Satan,  but  I  am  assured  my  dear  people 
will  never  prove  false  to  their  Christ" 

"  You  held  the  right  view  of  the  negro  until  lately, 
sir,"  Legree  interposed  at  this  point,  scowling  darkly  on 
the  preacher.  "  We  think  we  know  what  has  led  you 
astray,"  he  added  with  a  sneer. 

At  the  sound  of  Legree's  voice  the  minister's  eyes 
began  to  shine,  the  color  came  to  his  cheek  and  he  turned 
quickly  to  address  the  "  boss." 

"  I  confess  I  did  not  see  my  duty  to  the  colored  race 


236  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

until  recently,"  he  exclaimed,  "  but  I  have  always  de- 
spised a  man  who  was  false." 

Fearing  an  open  exposure  by  the  aroused  minister,  Le- 
gree  kept  silent  and  Mr.  Ashley  spoke  again. 

"  Your  intentions  may  be  all  right,  sir,  but  you  have 
been  led  astray.  You  are  endangering  every  white 
woman  in  Dothan  by  your  recent  actions.  You  are  turn- 
ing the  heads  of  the  negroes  and  making  them  think  they 
are  as  good  as  the  whites." 

"  A  man,  whether  he  is  white  or  black,"  replied  the 
preacher  earnestly,  "  must  be  judged  by  his  soul  and 
character.  In  God's  sight  color  is  not  the  dividing  line 
amongst  men." 

"  My  God,  hear  him,"  exclaimed  Larkin,  the  hotel- 
keeper,  looking  at  Mr.  Durham  in  horror.  "  Such  talk 
will  overturn  society  in  Alabama." 

"  You  well  know,"  responded  the  minister  with  in- 
tense earnestness,  "  that  I  have  always  abhorred  the  idea 
of  a  mulatto  race  in  our  Southland  and  I  abhor  it  more 
to-day  than  ever,  but  I  have  found  out  that  the  effort 
of  the  white  man  to  keep  the  negro  in  hopeless  ignorance 
blots  out  the  color  line,  while  our  efforts  to  uplift  the 
Afro-American  will  deepen  and  broaden  the  physical 
gulf  between  the  blacks  and  the  whites.  My  knowledge 
of  this  law  of  the  color  line,"  continued  the  minister 
amid  a  breathless  silence,  "  has  resulted  in  the  adoption 
of  new  views  in  regard  to  this  entire  question  and  I 
firmly  believe  the  better  element  in  the  entire  Southland 
agrees  with  me." 

As  he  spoke,  the  old  minister  stood  erect  before  them, 
his  white  hair,  like  a  crown  of  glory,  mantling  his  tem- 
ples, his  eyes  glowing  with  an  intense  light,  and  his  whole 
face  glorified. 

The  visitors  were  awed.     Even  Mr.  Ashley  and  Le- 


A  MAN'S  GOOD  NAME  237 

gree  felt  the  power  of  a  good  man  when  he  is  wholly  in 
earnest. 

But  Mr.  Ashley  soon  recovered  himself,  and  remarked, 
as  he  arose  to  go,  "  The  trouble  is,  sir,  you  think 
negroes  are  human  and  can  be  treated  as  human  beings, 
while  the  scientific  fact  is  that  they  are  more  akin  to  the 
ape  than  the  man." 

The  preacher  faced  Mr.  Ashley  and  looked  him 
squarely  in  the  eye  to  see  whether  the  lawyer  was  in 
real  earnest.  When  he  saw  the  sincere  expression  on 
Mr.  Ashley's  face,  his  first  idea  was  to  laugh  outright, 
but  on  second  thought  he  remarked  quietly,  "  If  I  be- 
lieved that  old,  exploded  theory  about  the  black  race  I 
should  be  compelled  to  acknowledge  that  in  many  cases 
the  brute  was  superior  to  the  man  in  every  quality  that 
goes  to  make  up  real  manhood,  but  such  an  idea  is  bar- 
barous and  absurd.  The  negro  is  made  in  the  image  of 
God  and  the  Gospel  of  Christ  is  for  him  as  well  as  for 
us." 

Not  knowing  what  reply  to  make,  Mr.  Ashley  led  the 
discomfited  committee  out  of  the  study. 

"  Poor  men,  poor  men,"  said  Mr.  Durham  to  himself 
when  he  was  left  alone,  "  I  see  now  that  nothing  makes 
people  so  blind  and  narrow  as  race  prejudice.  But  I 
cannot  condemn  them,  for  I  have  only  escaped  myself  at 
the  eleventh  hour  from  the  damning  sin." 

While  the  minister  was  meditating  thus,  a  loud  knock 
on  the  front  door  startled  him.  He  opened  it  quickly 
and  Nafti  Thomas  stood  before  him.  The  colored 
youth  was  greatly  agitated  and  almost  gasped  as  he  ex- 
claimed, "  I  want  to  see  you,  Mr.  Durham." 

The  minister  took  him  by  the  hand  and  drew  him  into 
the  study. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Nafti  ?    What  has  happened  ?  " 


238  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Instead  of  answering,  the  boy  bowed  his  head  and  the 
minister  saw  tears  trickling  down  his  dark  cheeks.  Some- 
thing clutched  the  old  man's  heart  and  he  feared  a  tragedy 
had  finally  come  to  Nafti's  home. 

"  Tell  me  what  it  is,  Nafti,"  he  said,  anxiously. 

"  These  stories  they  are  telling,  how  can  we  stop 
them  ?  "  responded  the  youth  brokenly. 

"  Stories,"  exclaimed  the  minister  in  amazement,  "  what 
stories  ?  " 

"Haven't  you  heard,  sir?"  asked  Nafti,  looking  up  in 
surprise. 

"  No,"  said  the  other,  sitting  down  beside  the  lad. 
"  Tell  me  what  is  on  your  mind."  Then  with  much  em- 
barrassment Nafti  told  him  the  stories  that  were  being  told 
around  town  connecting  the  names  of  his  sister,  Martha, 
and  Mr.  Durham.  "  It  is  not  for  my  sister's  sake  I  am 
here,  sir,"  said  the  boy,  when  he  had  finished,  "  for  she 
is  only  a  colored  girl,  but  these  stories  have  been  started 
to  injure  you  because  of  your  kindness  to  us.  What  can 
we  do,  sir?" 

As  he  began  to  understand  the  full  import  of  the 
stories  that  were  being  circulated  regarding  him,  and 
as  he  learned  from  Nafti  that  many  were  beginning  to 
credit  them  as  the  explanation  of  the  minister's  change 
of  views,  Mr.  Durham  had  a  new  revelation  of  the  fearful 
savagery  of  racial  hate  which  spares  neither  virtue  nor 
honor.  He  remembered  how  Mr.  Ashley  had  used  the 
word  "  scandal "  in  asking  for  his  resignation,  a  word 
which  had  puzzled  him  then,  but  which  he  now  under- 
stood. 

"  It  is  the  work  of  Peter  Legree  and  Mr.  Ashley," 
said  the  boy.  "  Mr.  Shelby  and  I  traced  the  stories  down 
to  them." 

"  Legree   is  the  real   author  of  the   lies,"   remarked 


A  MAN'S  GOOD  NAME  239 

the  minister  at  length,  restraining  his  anger  with  diffi- 
culty. "  Nothing  is  safe  from  his  vile  touch.  I  well 
know  he  has  started  these  slanders." 

"  What  can  we  do  ?  "  asked  Nafti,  pathetically.  "  Poor 
father  is  sick  with  worry." 

Mr.  Durham  paced  around  the  room  with  restless  steps. 
In  his  whole  life  this  was  the  first  time  that  slander 
had  blackened  his  fair  name.  He  could  clearly  see  the 
cunning  plans  of  his  enemies.  He  had  expected  opposi- 
tion to  his  new  views  on  the  race  problem,  but  he  was 
not  prepared  for  the  brutal  insults  which  were  being 
heaped  upon  him.  But  Mr.  Durham  was  not  a  man  to 
be  frightened  by  any  opposition  whether  of  men  or  of 
demons.  When  he  was  opposed  to  any  effort  being  made 
to  uplift  the  negro,  he  was  outspoken  in  his  faith  and  was 
ready  to  die  for  it,  if  need  be.  Now  that  a  light,  just 
as  amazing  to  him  as  to  others,  had  shone  into  his  soul, 
he  took  his  ground  unflinchingly,  determined  never  to 
retreat. 

"  Thank  you  for  coming  to  me,"  he  said  kindly  to  the 
colored  youth,  "  but  you  need  have  no  fear.  Tell  your 
father  that  I  shall  quickly  clear  his  daughter's  name. 
Her  honor  is  as  precious  as  mine  in  the  sight  of  God." 

Left  alone,  Mr.  Durham  tried  to  reflect  calmly  on 
what  had  happened.  He  sought  to  quiet  himself,  but  the 
more  he  meditated  on  Legree's  villainy  the  more  his  anger 
grew.  His  warm  Southern  nature  was  roused  beyond 
his  control.  For  long  years  he  had  been  building  up  a 
reputation  worthy  of  a  Christian  minister.  His  conduct 
had  always  been  scrupulously  conscientious  and  in  every- 
thing he  had  avoided  even  "  the  very  appearance  of 
evil."  But  he  could  see  the  auspicious  hour  which  Le- 
gree  had  chosen.  He  well  understood  how  bitter  was 
the  enmity  he  had  aroused  in  the  hearts  of  some.     At 


240  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

last  his  brain  reeled  and  his  judgment  faltered.  He 
rose,  almost  staggering,  and  went  to  his  desk,  and  from 
a  lower  drawer  he  pulled  out  a  long-disused  gun. 

"  It's  too  much,  it's  too  much,"  he  muttered  as  he  left 
the  house  and  walked  up  the  street. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

A   STRANGER   IN   DOTHAN 

"  Good  morning,  Sambo.  Is  this  Harbison  Insti- 
tute?" 

A  well-dressed  young  man,  evidently  a  Northerner,  ad- 
dressed these  words  to  a  coal-black  negro  who  was  work- 
ing near  the  gate  of  the  Institute  one  morning. 

"  Dis  am  Harbison,  but  dis  ain't  Sambo,"  answered  the 
swarthy  African. 

"  What  is  your  name,  then  ? "  inquired  the  young 
stranger,  looking  at  the  son  of  Ham  with  a  quizzical  ex- 
pression on  his  face. 

"  I'se  Pete,"  was  the  answer.  "  I'se,,  keep  de  groun's 
in  ordah.  Sambo  drives  de  mules  on  de  farm.  He's  a 
learned  colo'd  gemman." 

The  negro  was  evidently  an  object  of  interest  to  the 
Northerner  and  he  encouraged  him  to  talk  further  by 
asking,  "  How  do  you  know  that  Sambo  is  a  learned  col- 
ored gentleman,  Pete?" 

"  Well,  boss,"  answered  the  negro,  slowly,  "  Sambo 
knows  all  dere  is  to  know.  Dey  young  folks  at  de  school 
caint  eber  fool  Sambo.  Dey  tried  it  t'othah  day  when 
dey  asked  him  to  'splain  de  tel'graph." 

"  And  how  did  Sambo  explain  the  telegraph,"  the 
stranger  kept  on,  like  the  "  end  "  man  at  a  minstrel  show. 

"  Well,  boss,"  began  Pete,  "  when  dey  asked  him  to 
'splain  de  tel'graph  I'se  thinks  he  sho'  floored,  but  Sambo 
says,  quick-like,  '  Sho'  Ah  can  'splain  de  tel'graph,'  and 
he  sho'  did,"  grinned  the  negro  in  conclusion. 

241 


242  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  You  explain  the  telegraph  to  me  just  like  Sambo 
did,"  persisted  the  Northerner. 

"  It's  lak  dis,"  said  the  negro,  wrinkling  his  brows ; 
"  suppose  dere's  a  big  dog  with  his  head  in  San  Fran- 
cisco and  de  tail  in  New  York — " 

"  But,  Pete,"  interrupted  the  stranger,  "  there  never 
was  such  a  dog  as  that." 

"  Sho'  not,"  replied  Pete,  with  a  little  disgust ;  "  Sambo 
neber  said  dere  was  such  a  dog.  Just  suppose  dere  was 
such  a  dog,  suppose  it." 

"  All  right,"  said  the  other,  "  we'll  suppose  it." 

"  Well,  boss,"  continued  the  negro,  with  a  little  impa- 
tience, "  ef  youse  tramp  on  de  dog's  tail  in  New  York 
he  barks  in  San  Francisco.     Dat's  de  tel'graph." 

The  young  man  laughed  heartily  at  the  negro's  "  ex- 
planation," and  then  went  on,  "  I  say,  Pete,  is  there  a 
young  lady  who  teaches  in  this  school  whose  name  is 
Miss  Rose  Atkinson?" 

"  Dere  sho'  is,  boss,"  responded  the  black  man,  quickly. 
"  She's  de  young  Missus.  Neber  was  such  a  fine  lady 
in  Dothan  befoah." 

Just  then  there  was  the  sound  of  approaching  wheels 
on  the  graveled  avenue  of  the  Harbison  Institute  and  the 
negro  turned  round  to  see  what  it  was,  and  exclaimed, 
"  Heah  she  comes  huhself,  boss,  in  de  carridge  with  Massa 
"Lilly." 

The  stranger  quickly  looked  up  the  avenue  and  saw  a 
carriage  in  which  a  young  man  and  woman  were  sitting 
coming  swiftly  towards  the  gate.  As  soon  as  they  were 
opposite  him,  the  stranger  lifted  his  hat  in  greeting  and 
exclaimed,  "  Good  morning,  Miss  Rose." 

"  Horace  Speedwell,"  cried  the  girl,  in  astonishment, 
as  Jefferson  Lilly,  who  was  her  companion,  pulled  up 
the  horse  with  a  jerk.     In  another  moment  Rose  Atkin- 


A  STRANGER  IN  DOTHAN  243 

son  was  on  the  ground  and  shaking  hands  heartily  with 
the  stranger,  who  was  no  other  than  her  old  Pittsburg 
friend,  Horace  Speedwell,  whom  Donald  Shelby  had  met 
on  the  train  some  time  before. 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you,  Horace,"  cried  Rose,  her 
face  flushing  with  excitement  at  the  unexpected  meet- 
ing. "  I  was  sorry  to  miss  seeing  you  at  Pittsburg, 
but  Mr.  Shelby  told  me  he  had  met  you  on  the  train 
and  that  you  promised  to  come  to  Dothan  sometime. 
Mr.  Lilly,"  she  added,  turning  to  Jefferson,  "  this  is  my 
old  friend,  Horace  Speedwell,  of  Pittsburg." 

The  two  young  men  shook  hands  warmly,  but  Jeffer- 
son Lilly  thought  that  the  young  Northerner  eyed  him  a 
little  suspiciously. 

"  Excuse  me,  to-day,  Mr.  Lilly,"  said  the  girl  to  Jef- 
ferson. "  I  will  stay  with  Mr.  Speedwell  and  take  him 
up  to  see  Dr.  Furber." 

Jefferson  drove  on,  thinking  to  himself,  "  I  fear  poor 
Donald  will  have  a  strong  rival  in  that  Northerner.  Rose 
was  overjoyed  to  see  him." 

"  I  want  you  to  meet  Dr.  Furber,  our  President,  first 
of  all,"  said  Rose,  when  Jefferson  had  gone. 

"  No,"  answered  the  other,  "  I  want  to  talk  to  you  a 
little  while  first  by  yourself.  Let  us  go  over  to  that 
shaded  seat." 

They  were  soon  seated  in  a  beautiful  sylvan  retreat  on 
the  Harbison  campus  and  young  Speedwell  turned  and 
gazed  a  moment  at  Rose. 

"  Alabama  certainly  agrees  with  you,"  he  exclaimed 
with  admiration.  "  You  are  fairer  than  ever,  Rose. 
From  what  I  had  heard  of  your  work  here  I  feared  I 
would  find  you  a  physical  and  mental  wreck." 

"  Our  school  is  prospering  now  and  since  that  young 
Southern  gentleman,  Jefferson  Lilly,  whom  you  just  met, 


244,  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

has  joined  us,  my  own  responsibility  grows  less  and  less, 
and  I  am  enjoying  this  work  for  our  Afro-American 
citizens  more  and  more.  Every  day  we  see  its  good  re- 
sults. But  what  do  you  mean,  Horace,"  she  asked,  turn- 
ing towards  him,  "  surprising  me  like  this  ?  Why  did 
you  not  write  me  that  you  were  coming?  You  never 
mentioned  it  in  any  of  your  letters." 

"  I  wanted  to  see  how  you  were  getting  on,  and  at  the 
last  moment  I  decided  to  visit  Dothan.  I  have  been  in 
New  Orleans.  Rose,"  he  continued,  in  a  low  tone,  "  I 
cannot  bear  to  have  you  remain  here  any  longer.  You 
must  come  back  to  your  old  friends  in  Pittsburg.  This 
work  is  not  worthy  of  you." 

"  Don't  say  that,  Horace,"  answered  the  girl,  quickly. 
"  I  often  think  I  am  not  worthy  of  the  work.  In  many 
ways  Harbison  Institute  means  more  to  America's  fu- 
ture than  either  Yale  or  Harvard.  We  are  solving  here 
the  greatest  problem  of  America." 

"  But  anyone  can  do  missionary  work  amongst  these 
ignorant  blacks.  Come  back  to  us,  Rose,"  pleaded  the 
young  man.  "  You  are  not  needed  here  and  we  need 
you  in  Pittsburg." 

The  girl  smiled  at  his  earnestness  and  answered, 
"  When  I  was  in  Pittsburg  I  met  Mr.  Lilly  there  and  he 
asked  me  how  I  could  leave  such  a  splendid  city  as  Pitts- 
burg and  come  to  Dothan,  and  I  told  him  it  was  just  the 
other  way  —  I  am  not  needed  in  Pittsburg,  but  I  am 
needed  here." 

"  Who  is  this  Jefferson  Lilly  ?  "  asked  young  Speed- 
well, a  little  later.  Rose  told  him,  as  briefly  as  she 
could,  Jefferson's  story,  concluding  by  saying,  "  Since 
he  has  come  to  Harbison  our  institution  has  taken  on 
new  life.  He  is  a  remarkable  young  man,  and  will  be 
heard  from  some  day  all  over  the  South." 


A  STRANGER  IN  DOTHAN  245 

Horace  Speedwell  winced  a  little  as  he  noticed  the 
tone  of  admiration  which  Rose  used  in  describing  Jeffer- 
son Lilly.  He  could  plainly  see  that  in  her  eyes  Jeffer- 
son Lilly  had  begun  to  live  when  he  gave  himself  up  to 
the  service  of  his  lowly  fellow-Southerners.  He  was 
silent  for  a  little  while  and  then  changed  the  subject  ab- 
ruptly by  saying,  in  earnest  tones,  "  Rose,  you  have  al- 
ways been  my  queen.  Don't  you  remember  how  I  used 
to  say  that  to  you  when  you  were  only  a  little  girl. 
Won't  you  consent  to  be  my  wife?  I  will  do  anything 
you  ask  me.  I  will  even  arrange  to  spend  part  of  each 
year  in  Dothan  if  you  will  consent  to  be  mine." 

The  young  man  arose  from  his  seat  as  he  spoke  and 
stood  in  front  of  the  girl.  She  looked  up  at  him  sadly 
as  she  shook  her  head.  "  It  can  never  be,  Horace.  I 
told  you  so  before.  I  have  always  looked  on  you  as  my 
best  friend,  but  I  can  never  consent  to  be  your  wife.  I 
thought  we  had  settled  that." 

"  But,  Rose,  think  what  I  am  now  able  to  offer  you.  My 
new  Pittsburg  home  is  just  completed,  and  I  have  pur- 
chased a  summer  residence  in  the  Alleghenies.  I  will 
spend  my  whole  life  to  make  you  happy." 

"  Horace,  Horace,"  answered  the  girl,  with  a  little  im- 
patience, "  you  well  know  that  those  things  mean  noth- 
ing to  me.  Life  to  me  is  not  luxury  and  pleasure.  It 
is  service.  No,  Horace,  let  us  not  speak  of  that  any 
more,"  she  concluded,  firmly,  rising  as  she  spoke  and 
looking  straight  into  his  eyes.  "  My  answer  a  year  ago 
was  final.     Let  us  continue  to  be  always  friends." 

Horace  Speedwell  lowered  his  eyes  dejectedly  to  the 
ground. 

"  Promise  me,  Horace,"  said  the  girl,  holding  out  her 
hand,  "  that  you  will  not  bring  up  this  subject  again. 
It  only  gives  both  of  us  pain." 


246  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

He  stood  for  a  while  helpless  and  then  deliberately 
took  her  hand.  "  Rose,"  he  said,  slowly,  pressing  her 
hand  in  his,  "  I  cannot  but  love  you  and  you  will  never 
know  what  this  has  cost  me,  but  I  will  trouble  you  no 
more.  I  said  this  the  last  time,  but  I  see  it  is  different 
now.  I  plainly  see  that  such  a  man  as  Jefferson  Lilly 
has  more  claim  on  you  than  an  idle  fellow  like  me." 

Rose  blushed  and  responded  with  some  confusion, 
"  No,  it  is  not  that,  Horace,  but  I  shall  hope  to  see  you 
some  day  just  as  active  as  Jefferson  Lilly  in  trying  to 
make  this  a  better  world." 

They  resumed  their  walk  to  the  President's  house,  and 
Rose  introduced  her  friend  to  Dr.  Furber.  Before  the 
young  man  left,  the  President  showed  him  around  the  in- 
stitution. 

"  Here  is  where  we  prove  that  the  negro  has  a  future 
before  him,"  said  Dr.  Furber,  pointing  to  a  group  of  col- 
ored boys  at  work  in  the  carpenter  shop.  "  These  lads," 
he  continued,  "  are  learning  to  do  just  the  kind  of  skilled 
work  that  there  is  great  demand  for.  You  see  there: 
some  of  the  future  contractors  and  builders  of  the 
South." 

"  I  was  in  Washington  last  winter,"  replied  young 
Speedwell,  who  was  beginning  to  arouse  himself  some- 
what from  his  depression  under  the  influence  of  Dr. 
Furber's  enthusiasm,  "  and  I  heard  Senator  Tillman 
speak  in  the  Senate  on  the  race  question.  He  seemed  to 
think  that  such  institutions  as  yours  mean  only  a  race 
war,  as  industrial  training  gives  the  negro  power  and 
incites  him  to  resist  the  domination  of  the  white  race. 
I  remember  he  shouted  out,  '  Race  hatred  is  growing  in 
the  South  every  day.'  Do  you  think  that  is  true,  Dr. 
Furber?" 

"  Not  at  all,  not  at  all,"  replied  the  President  of  Harbi- 


A  STRANGER  IN  DOTHAN  247 

son  with  much  spirit.  "  These  men  owe  their  political 
power  to  the  fact  that  they  stir  up  racial  strife.  Men 
like  Tillman  are  the  real  enemies  of  the  South  to-day. 
The  education  and  uplift  of  the  negro  race  is  the  only 
solution  of  the  race  problem." 

"  It  seems  to  me  to  be  the  only  Christian  solution,  but 
you  know,  Dr.  Furber,  that  many  of  the  people  of  this 
day  do  not  seek  the  Christian  solution  of  such  questions. 
Very  few  take  Christianity  as  seriously  as  you  and  Rose 
Atkinson,   for  example." 

"  I  disagree  with  you,  my  young  friend,"  answered 
Dr.  Furber  with  emphasis,  "  for  I  hold  that  the  Chris- 
tian solution  is  the  only  possible  solution  of  any  question, 
and  that  the  world  is  slowly  but  surely  accepting  this  as 
an  axiom." 

Before  the  inspection  of  Harbison  w?r  concluded  Dr. 
Furber  had  so  impressed  Mr.  Speedw^  -  with  the  prac- 
tical usefulness  of  such  an  institut*  ,  that  the  young 
millionaire  surprised  the  educator  oy  handing  him  a 
check  for  $5,000,  saying  as  he  did  so,  "  Use  this  as  you 
see  fit  and  take  good  care  of  Miss  Atkinson.  As  she 
told  you,  she  and  I  have  been  friends  from  childhood." 

The  parting  of  Rose  and  her  old  friend  was  pathetic 
She  had  accompanied  him  to  the  gate.  "  I  wish  you 
could  have  remained  in  Dothan  a  few  more  days,"  she; 
said,  sorrowfully. 

"  No,"  he  replied,  "  I  see  I  am  no  longer  needed  in 
your  life,  but  I  wish  you  well.  I  have  been  convinced 
by  this  visit  that  your  work  in  Harbison  is  a  worthy  one 
and  that  you  are  not  throwing  your  life  away,  but  I  wiN 
never  believe  that  the  work  is  worthy  of  such  as  you. 
Good-by." 

"  Good-by,"  she  answered  simply,  as  they  shook  hands 
in  parting.     A  tear  dimmed  her  eyes  as  she  watched  him 


248  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

walk  away.  "  Poor  Horace,"  she  sighed  to  herself.  "  I 
am  sorry  for  him.  How  happy  we  were  as  children  and 
what  a  great  man  I  used  to  imagine  he  would  become. 
If  only  he  had  been  born  poor  I  really  think  my  dreams 
for  him  would  have  been  true." 

Half  an  hour  after  leaving  Rose  Atkinson,  Horace 
Speedwell  entered  the  office  of  Donald  Shelby.  "  How 
are  you,  Mr.  Shelby  ?  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Do  you  remem- 
ber me  ?  "  Donald  looked  perplexed  for  a  moment  and 
cried  out,  "  Glad  to  see  you  again,  Mr.  Speedwell.  You 
have  come  to  redeem  your  promise  to  visit  Miss  Atkinson. 
She  will  be  delighted  to  see  you." 

"  I  have  been  out  at  Harbison,"  answered  the  young 
man,  with  a  crestfallen  look,  "  but  I  find  that  I  put  off 
my  journey  too  long.  This  is  a  case  where  the  South 
is  the  victor.     7  received  my  final  answer  to-day." 

Donald  did  n  t  understand  exactly  what  was  meant, 
but  he  continued  se  conversation  by  asking,  "  Did  you 
meet  my  friend,  JeJerson  Lilly,  at  Harbison  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  wish  him  well,  but  he  has  made  me  mis- 
erable for  the  rest  of  my  life." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  Donald,  in  surprise. 

"  Didn't  you  know  he  had  won  the  heart  of  my  Penn- 
sylvania Rose.  I  met  them  this  morning  driving  to- 
gether and  from  the  very  first  I  suspected  the  truth. 
After  talking  with  Rose  for  a  little  while  I  soon  learned 
my  fate." 

"  Jefferson  and  Rose  —  not  at  all,"  exclaimed  Donald, 
in  confusion.  "  Poor  Jefferson  Lilly  pays  dear  for  his  ser- 
vices at  Harbison,"  and  then  Donald  told  Horace  Speed- 
well the  story  of  Jefferson  Lilly  and  Florence  Ashley. 

"  Did  Miss  Atkinson  know  all  of  this  ?  "  asked  Mr. 
Speedwell. 

"  Certainly,"  responded  Donald. 


A  STRANGER  IN  DOTHAN  249 

"  Then  perhaps  she  has  thought  it  was  her  duty  to 
cheer  Mr.  Lilly's  heart,  for  I  assure  you  they  are  en- 
gaged.    Rose  admitted  as  much  to  me." 

"  You  are  surely  mistaken,"  said  Donald  Shelby  so 
earnestly  that  young  Speedwell  looked  at  him  curiously 
and  exclaimed,  "  I  believe  that  girl  has  bewitched  all 
Dothan." 

In  trying  to  hide  his  real  feelings  Donald  laughed 
heartily  and  said,  "  She  has  certainly  wrought  a  change 
in  our  community  since  she  came  here.  Jefferson  Lilly 
is  only  one  of  her  converts.  Even  our  old  minister,  Rev. 
William  Durham,  has  become  her  follower  in  the  matter 
of  negro  education." 

"  Durham,  Durham,  where  did  I  hear  that  name  ?  " 

"  I  expect,"  responded  Donald,  "  you  have  heard  of 
his  brother,  Rev.  John  Durham  of  Hambright." 

"  Yes,  yes.  He  has  won  a  national  reputation  as  a 
first  class  negro  chaser.  Did  you  say  his  brother  is  a 
minister  here  and  that  he  has  become  a  supporter  of 
Harbison  ?  " 

"  Even  so,  and  all  through  Miss  Atkinson's  influence. 
It  has  meant  almost  a  tragedy  in  our  old  minister's  life, 
for  only  yesterday  I  met  him  wandering  the  street  look- 
ing for  Legree,  a  low  fellow  here  who  basely  slandered 
our  minister  on  account  of  his  new  views  in  regard  to 
the  negro.  Mr.  Durham  was  so  excited  over  the  attack 
on  his  good  name  that  he  had  vowed  to  shoot  Xegree  at 
sight,  but  I  met  him,  fortunately,  and  restored  him  to 
reason." 

Horace  Speedwell  looked  perturbed.  "  This  is  no 
place  for  a  girl  like  Rose  Atkinson.  These  negro  haters 
will  get  her  yet." 

"  Fear  not,"  said  Donald.  "  She  is  taking  away 
Dothan's  reproach." 


CHAPTER  XXV 

THE    COMING    OF    THE    CRISIS 

"  Come  in,  Larkin ;  you  are  late."  Peter  Legree 
opened  the  door  of  his  office  in  response  to  a  quiet 
knock,  and  ushered  in  the  hotel-keeper,  Larkin,  with  this 
greeting. 

"  Are  the  rest  here  ?  "  inquired  Larkin,  looking  around. 

Three  other  rough-looking  men  were  lounging  in 
chairs,  smoking  cigarettes.  Their  faces  were  black,  but 
a  close  inspection  showed  that  they  were  white  men  sim- 
ulating negroes.  "  It's  black  inside  as  well  as  out  to- 
night," added  Larkin  with  a  laugh,  as  he  noticed  his 
companions. 

"  We're  all  here,"  responded  one  of  the  men,  whom 
they  called  "  Pug,"  a  peculiarly  brutal-looking  fellow. 
"  Let  us  get  down  to  business." 

The  five  men  drew  their  chairs  together  and  Legree 
began,  "  This  is  our  trump  card,  and  we  want  to  make  a 
clean  sweep.  The  day  for  half  measures  is  past.  We 
can  depend  on  you  fellows,  can't  we  ?  " 

The  three  desperadoes  nodded  in  silence. 

"  Do  you  remember  that  guy,  Lilly,  who  drilled  a  hole 
in  your  arm  one  night  ?  "  went  on  the  "  boss,"  speaking 
to  "  Pug." 

"  Bet  your  life,"  replied  the  fellow  with  a  vile  oath. 
"  There  is  something  coming  his  way  if  I  ever  get  a 
chance." 

*  We'll  give  you  the  chance,"  replied  Legree.  "  We 
want  a  neat  job  done  this  time.     Understand?" 

250 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  CRISIS  251 

"  Pass  over  the  spondulix  and  give  your  orders,  boss, 
and  we'll  do  the  rest,"  replied  "  Pug,"  while  the  other 
two  nodded  again  in  silence. 

"  Listen,"  said  Legree,  lowering  his  voice.  "  We  want 
three  big  bonfires  in  Dothan  to-morrow  night  —  one  at 
old  Preacher  Durham's  house,  and  two  out  at  the  nigger 
school." 

"  My  conscience,  Legree,"  said  Larkin,  "  you  don't 
mean  to  burn  down  all  of  Harbison  just  to  get  at  that 
fellow  Lilly." 

"  Your  conscience,"  laughed  Legree  in  reply.  "  What 
do  men  like  us  want  of  a  conscience?  I  want  to  get  at 
more  than  Lilly.  We'll  burn  up  that  whole  nest  of  black 
crows.  That  is  the  only  way  we  can  win  out.  We'll 
scare  that  nigger  school  out  of  Dothan  for  good." 

Larkin  shook  his  head.  "  You  will  raise  the  very 
devil  if  you  do  that,  Legree,  and  it  will  end  you  for  good 
and  all.  There  will  be  suspicion  and  it  will  make  lots  of 
sympathy  for  the  blacks." 

"  Now  listen  to  me.  Here's  my  plan,"  answered  Le- 
gree. The  men  drew  their  chairs  closer,  and  Legree  in 
a  whispered  voice  conversed  for  a  long  time  with  his 
henchmen. 

"  Do  you  all  understand  ?  "  asked  Legree,  at  length. 

"  You  bet,"  echoed  the  chorus. 

"  To-morrow  night,  remember,  all  at  the  same  time. 
Do  a  good  job  and  there  is  five  hundred  in  it  for  each 
of  you." 

The  three  men  withdrew,  leaving  Larkin  and  Legree 
alone.  The  two  looked  at  each  other  for  a  few  mo- 
ments and  then  Larkin  began,  "  Legree,  I  don't  like  this. 
You  are  going  too  far.  Ashley  would  never  approve 
of  it." 

"  Larkin,  the  whites  are  getting  desperate.     We  can 


252  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

depend  on  them  once  you  get  them  woke  up.  They 
killed  niggers  by  the  hundred  forty  years  ago  and  we're 
worse  off  now  than  then.  It  is  a  fight  between  civiliza- 
tion and  barbarism." 

"Things  are  very  different  now  from  the  Ku  Klux 
Klan  days,"  replied  Larkin. 

"  Not  at  all.  We  shot  and  burned  them  then  and  we 
need  to  do  it  to-day.  This  is  a  white  man's  country  and 
white  men  must  govern  it,  with  the  gun  and  torch,  if 
need  be." 

Larkin  shook  his  head.  "  You  will  find  that  the  burn- 
ing of  Harbison  will  not  help  your  cause,  Legree.  There 
will  be  a  reaction." 

"  I  know  just  what  Dothan  needs,"  answered  the 
other,  with  impatience.  "  We  white  men  who  believe  in 
a  white  government  have  been  too  easy." 

Larkin  was  silent,  but  he  shook  his  head,  and  soon 
afterwards  he  left  Legree  alone. 

"  When  I  have  cleaned  out  the  town  and  rid  Dothan 
of  Harbison  they  will  all  praise  Peter  Legree  again," 
said  the  boss  to  himself.  "  I  am  not  afraid  of  the  con- 
sequences.    This  is  a  white  man's  country." 

But  in  spite  of  his  bravado  Larkin's  warnings  re- 
sounded in  his  ears  that  night  as  he  sat  alone.  Some 
such  thoughts  came  to  his  mind  as  those  which  haunted 
Macbeth  on  the  eve  of  Duncan's  murder,  when  he  solilo- 
quized in  his  room  at  Inverness  Castle: 

"If  it  were  done,  when  'tis  done,  then  'twere  well 
It  were  done  quickly:  if  the  assassination 
Could  trammel  up  the  consequences,  and   catch. 
With  his   surcease,  success;  that  but  this  blow 
Might  be  the  be-all  and  the  end-all  here, 
But  here,  upon  this  bank  and  shoal  of  time, 
We'd  jump  the  life  to  come.     But  in  these  cases 
We  still  have   judgment  here;   that  we  but   teach 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  CRISIS  253 

Bloody  instructions,  which  being  taught,  return 
To  plague  the  inventor;   this  even-handed  justice 
Commends  the  ingredients  of  our  poisoned  chalice 
To  our  own  lips." 

As  he  meditated  somewhat  thus,  a  rush  of  wind  shook 
the  windows  and  Legree  started  to  his  feet.  He  looked 
around  him  with  a  shudder,  but,  soon  gaining  his  self- 
control,  he  broke  into  a  sneering  laugh,  saying,  "  Dothan 
needs  this  purifying  fire." 

It  happened  on  that  very  evening  that  another  secret 
meeting  was  being  held  in  Dothan  in  Rev.  William  Dur- 
ham's study.  Deacon  Leavitt  and  Dr.  Rankin  sat  in 
close  consultation  with  the  old  minister  for  a  long  time. 
Unable  to  bear  the  strain  alone  any  longer,  Mr.  Durham 
had  called  in  these  two  officers  of  the  church  and  laid  be- 
fore them  the  facts  regarding  Legree's  perfidy.  He  con- 
fessed to  them  his  own  lapse  in  seeking  vengeance,  and. 
said  with  great  emotion,  "  I  feel  that  I  have  fallen  from 
grace  myself.  Had  it  not  been  for  Mr.  Shelby  I  might 
have  stained  my  soul  with  a  fellow-mortal's  blood." 

"  You  had  good  reason  to  be  enraged,"  said  Dr.  Ran- 
kin, sympathetically.  "  We  have  neglected  this  matter 
too  long.  The  judgment  of  God  will  soon  fall  on  us 
unless  we  purge  the  church." 

"  I  sometimes  fear  I  have  waited  too  long,"  said  the 
old  minister  with  sadness.  "  I  have  been  much  at  fault 
myself." 

"  We  are  all  sinners,"  Deacon  Leavitt  exclaimed,  "  but 
I  hope  we  are  not  a  band  of  robbers  and  a  den  of  thieves. 
In  spite  of  Legree's  prominence  we  must  at  once  ask 
him  to  retire  from  our  communion  or  else  stand  trial  for 
his  conduct." 

"  It  will  mean  an  upheaval  in  our  church,"  responded 
Mr.  Durham,  "  for  Legree  has  some  powerful  friends, 


254  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

but  I  believe  that  the  church  as  a  whole  will  hail  with 
joy  such  action  as  we  propose.  This  last  infamy  of  his 
in  trying  to  blacken  our  pastor's  good  name  is  already 
proving  a  boomerang." 

"  I  cannot  understand  why  Mr.  Ashley  supports  Le- 
gree  as  he  does,"  said  Deacon  Leavitt. 

"  Mr.  Ashley  came  to  see  me  to-day,"  said  Mr.  Dur- 
ham, with  a  smile.  "  The  man  is  in  earnest,  but  it  is  ri- 
diculous to  hear  an  intelligent  man  talk  as  he  does.  He 
is  fully  convinced  that  the  negro  has  no  soul  and  he  actu- 
ally thinks  it  would  be  best  if  we  could  re-enslave  every 
black  man  and  treat  him  as  an  animal.  He  told  me  that 
his  daughter,  Florence,  would  not  sing  in  the  choir  any 
more  on  account  of  my  endorsement  of  Harbison." 

"  How  can  such  folly  on  the  part  of  a  man  like  Mr. 
Ashley  be  explained  ?  "  asked  Dr.  Rankin. 

"  Oh,  he  has  a  bushel  of  arguments  to  prove  his  point," 
replied  Mr.  Durham.  "  Some  State  University  profes- 
sors in  the  South  have  been  advocating  this  theory  lately 
with  great  earnestness,  and  Mr.  Ashley  has  been  read- 
ing their  books.  They  claim  that  the  negro  has  de- 
scended from  some  species  of  prehistoric  animal,  akin  to 
the  ape,  and  they  deny  strenuously  that  he  is  a  descendant 
of  Adam." 

"  What  did  you  say  to  Mr.  Ashley  when  he  talked  like 
that  ?  "  asked  Deacon  Leavitt. 

Mr.  Durham  smiled  broadly  as  he  answered,  "  I  gave 
him  a  few  facts  to  ponder  over,  but  I  found  it  was  use- 
less to  argue  with  him.  His  belief  that  the  negro  is 
only  an  animal  has  become  his  religion.  However,  I 
told  him  some  well-known  facts  about  what  the  negroes 
are  doing." 

"  I  was  in  Birmingham  lately,"  interposed  Dr.  Rankin, 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  CRISIS         255 

"  and  I  found  that  two  of  the  finest  banks  in  that  city  are 
run  by  negroes." 

"  I  gave  him  a  number  of  cases  like  that,"  went  on 
Mr.  Durham.  "  I  told  him  that  there  were  over  14,000 
negroes  in  the  employ  of  the  federal  government,  their 
combined  salaries  amounting  to  nearly  $10,000,000.  One 
of  these  negroes  receives  $10,000  a  year  and  a  number 
of  colored  government  officials  receive  from  $2,500  to 
$5,000  per  year.  Nearly  three  hundred  negroes  are 
postmasters.  I  gave  him  a  whole  lot  of  information  like 
that  and  said  that  such  a  record  proved  that  some  ne- 
groes, at  least,  were  human." 

"  What  did  he  say  to  that?  "  inquired  the  deacon. 

"  He  became  angry  at  me,  and  said  that  when  the 
Southern  white  man  came  into  power  he  would  turn  out 
every  last  one  of  these  black  animals." 

Dr.  Rankin  and  Deacon  Leavitt  laughed  uproariously 
at  this,  and  then  Mr.  Durham  added,  "  At  last  I  ended 
all  argument  by  reminding  him  that  the  human  race  is 
reproduced  through  the  negro  and  that  scientists  all  over 
the  world  included  the  negro  in  the  human  family." 

"  Poor  Mr.  Ashley,"  said  Dr.  Rankin.  "  He  is  a  good 
example  of  the  way  prejudice  on  any  subject  blinds  the 
eyes  and  distorts  the  reason  of  intelligent  people." 

"  But  even  if  we  granted  to  him  that  his  theory  of 
the  negro  was  true,"  said  Deacon  Leavitt  with  emphasis, 
"  how  can  we  uphold  Legree  in  his  evil  deeds  ?  " 

"  In  his  eyes  Legree  is  a  hero,  a  champion  of  civiliza- 
tion, and  he  thinks  all  accusations  against  him  are  the 
result  of  his  determination  to  keep  down  the  animal 
race." 

Finally,  Mr.  Durham  and  his  advisers  determined  that 
the  time  had  come  for  prompt  action  in  the  case  of  Le- 


256  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

gree,  and  a  letter  to  him  was  prepared  asking  him  either 
to  withdraw  from  the  church,  or  to  stand  a  public  trial  on 
charges  which  had  been  preferred  against  him. 

"  We  have  had  a  false  peace  in  Calvary  Church  too 
long,"  said  Deacon  Leavitt  as  they  separated.  "  The 
good  Book  says  '  The  wisdom  that  is  from  above  is  first 
pure,  then  peaceable.'  I  only  hope  that  our  action  is  not 
now  too  late  to  avert  God's  righteous  judgment." 

On  that  eventful  night  in  Dothan,  on  the  eve  of  the 
crisis  in  the  life  of  the  community,  there  was  still  another 
conference.  Jefferson  Lilly  spent  that  evening  at  the 
office  of  his  friend,  Donald  Shelby.  After  he  saw  the 
light  on  Rose  Atkinson's  face  when  she  greeted  Horace 
Speedwell,  Jefferson  Lilly  was  convinced  that  the  North- 
erner was  her  accepted  lover,  and  Rose's  depression  after 
the  departure  of  young  Speedwell  only  deepened  this 
conviction.  At  the  same  time  Donald  Shelby  had  become 
convinced  that  Horace  Speedwell  was  right  and  that 
Rose  had  taken  Florence  Ashley's  place  in  Jefferson's 
life. 

"  I  wonder  why  Jefferson  never  spoke  to  me  about 
it,"  Donald  said  to  himself  again  and  again,  as  he  thought 
of  his  own  disappointment,  but  Donald  remembered 
that  Jefferson  had  not  mentioned  Florence's  name  to 
him  for  some  time.  He  reasoned  that  the  constant  asso- 
ciation of  his  friend  and  Rose  in  their  work  at  Harbison, 
and  their  harmonious  tastes,  made  it  the  most  natural 
'thing  in  the  world  for  Rose  to  supplant  Florence  Ashley, 
especially  since  Florence  had  proved  so  obdurate. 

Accordingly,  the  two  friends  met  that  evening  totally 
misunderstanding  each  other,  and  with  some  manifest  re- 
straint on  both  sides. 

"  Did  you  meet  our  last  visitor  at  Harbison  ?  "  asked 
Jefferson  during  their  conversation. 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  CRISIS  257 

"Who  was  that?"  asked  Donald. 

"  Horace  Speedwell  of  Pittsburg,  an  old  friend  of 
Rose  Atkinson." 

"  Yes,"  said  Donald,  slowly.  "  He  called  to  see  me. 
You  know  I  met  him  on  the  train  once  when  I  was  com- 
ing from  New  York.  He  told  me  that  he  found  Miss 
Atkinson  in  good  hands  nowadays." 

"  I  could  see  he  was  greatly  interested  in  her  wel- 
fare," said  Jefferson,  soberly.  "  Do  you  know,  Donald, 
I  used  to  think  that  you  were  Rose's  favorite,  but  you 
have  not  made  good  use  of  your  advantages." 

"  Never  mind,  Jefferson.  I'll  get  over  it,"  said  Don- 
ald, trying  to  appear  unconcerned,  but  his  heart-pain  at 
that  moment  made  his  voice  tremble.  Jefferson  at 
once  thought  that  Horace  Speedwell  had  told  Don- 
ald about  his  relation  to  Rose,  and  he  hastened  to  sym- 
pathize with  his  old  friend. 

"  I  am  sorry  about  it,  Donald.  I  have  been  thinking 
of  you  all  day  and  of  your  disappointment,  but  I  did  not 
think  you  knew." 

"  It  was  a  surprise  to  me,  I  confess,"  responded  Don- 
ald, with  downcast  head.  "  Horace  Speedwell  told  me 
all  about  it." 

"  Good  for  the  Northerner,"  answered  Jefferson.  "  I 
am  glad  that  he  spared  me  the  pain  of  doing  it  myself, 
for  I  knew  how  you  felt  towards  Rose."  . 

"  In  spite  of  my  own  disappointment  I  congratulate 
you,"  said  Donald,  bravely,  reaching  out  his  hand. 

Jefferson  could  not  understand  what  his  friend  meant, 
but  he  took  his  hand  in  sympathy,  thinking  that  Donald 
was  partly  overcome. 

"  You  have  always  been  a  good  friend  of  mine,  Don- 
ald, and  I  hope  this  won't  make  any  difference  in  your 
relation  to  Harbison.     You  have  been  a  pillar  of  strength 


258  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

to  us,  as  Rose  says,  and  we  need  your  help  now  more 
than  ever." 

"  I  promised  Rose  once  that  I  would  be  a  friend  to 
Harbison,  and  I  will  keep  my  vow  for  her  sake  as  well 
as  yours." 

"  You  are  a  man,  Donald,  you  are  a  man,"  said  Jef- 
ferson, enthusiastically,  shaking  his  hand  warmly  in  fare- 
well. 

"  It  is  hard  on  me,  Jefferson,  but  if  only  you  and  she 
are  happy  I  am  not  of  much  account." 

"  I  am  drowning  myself  in  my  work  nowadays,"  re- 
sponded Jefferson,  as  he  walked  away,  "  but  I  live  in 
hopes  that  some  morn  my  day  will  dawn." 

"  What  could  he  mean  ? "  said  Donald  to  himself  as 
he  thought  of  these  last  words  of  Jefferson.  "  I  wonder 
if  he  has  given  himself  to  Rose  while  his  heart  still  be- 
longed to  Florence?  Alas,  alas,  how  many  tangles  there 
are  in  life.  How  much  that  is  hard  to  bear.  My  own 
future  seems  intolerable."  And  in  the  deepest  dejection 
he  sat  alone  with  his  sad  thoughts.  "  That  Dayton  boy 
perhaps  was  right  after  all,"  he  said  at  last,  recalling 
the  pathetic  lines  of  Paul  Lawrence  Dunbar  on  "  Life  " : 

"A  crust  of  bread  and  a  corner  to  sleep  in, 
A  minute  to  smile  and  an  hour  to  weep  in, 
A  pint  of  joy  to  a  peck  of  trouble, 
And  never  a  laugh  but  the  moan  comes  double; 
And  that  is  life." 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

THE   FIRE   AT  HARBISON 

The  next  day  after  the  conference  at  the  parsonage 
Rev.  William  Durham  notified  Peter  Legree  by  letter 
that  Calvary  Church  demanded  either  that  he  withdraw 
from  its  membership  or  stand  trial  for  conduct  unbe- 
coming a  follower  of  Christ. 

That  night  the  minister  of  Calvary  Church  could  not 
sleep.  He  knew  that  he  had  now  crossed  the  Rubicon, 
and  that  a  struggle,  perhaps  a  cross,  awaited  him.  It 
was  a  Gethsemane  experience  and  the  old  minister,  like 
his  Master  long  before,  experienced  a  conflict  of  emo- 
tions. At  last  he  bowed  his  soul  in  humble  submission 
to  the  will  of  God,  exclaiming  again  and  again,  "  Thy 
will,  O  God,  be  done,"  when  suddenly  he  was  startled 
to  hear  a  noise  in  the  lower  part  of  the  house.  He  lis- 
tened attentively.  Someone  was  evidently  forcing  open 
a  window  in  the  rear  of  the  house.  He  arose  hastily 
and,  partially  dressing  himself,  prepared  to  go  down- 
stairs. He  seized  as  the  only  available  weapon  a  stout 
hickory  cane  which  happened  to  be  standing  in  one  of  the 
corners  of  his  room,  a  cane  which  he  had  himself  cut  at 
the  Hermitage,  the  old  home  place  of  Andrew  Jackson, 
near  Nashville,  Tenn.  When  he  reached  the  rooms  be- 
low he  found  that  his  midnight  caller  had  already  en- 
tered and  was  walking  around  in  the  kitchen.  Mr.  Dur- 
ham entered  the  pantry  and  could  hear  a  splashing  sound, 
like  pouring  water,  and  wondered  what  it  meant.  All 
at  once  he  detected  a  smell  of  kerosene  oil.     In  an  in- 

259 


260  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

stant  the  truth  flashed  upon  him  —  an  incendiary  was  at 
work.  There  was  not  a  moment  to  lose.  The  room  had 
already  been  drenched  with  the  inflammable  oil.  In  an- 
other moment  the  match  would  be  struck,  and  his  home 
would  be  in  flames. 

The  old  minister  did  not  hesitate  a  moment.  Grasp- 
ing his  heavy  hickory  cane  firmly  he  crept  noiselessly  into 
the  kitchen  and  peered  into  the  darkness.  He  could 
make  out  the  dim  form  of  a  man  on  his  knees  near  the 
open  window.  The  intruder  was  pouring  oil  on  a  bundle 
of  paper,  preparatory  to  setting  the  room  ablaze,  and  the 
gentle  rustling  of  the  papers  enabled  Mr.  Durham  to 
quickly  cross  the  floor  without  being  detected.  The  man 
was  about  to  reach  into  his  pocket  for  a  match  when  the 
hickory  cane  descended  with  all  force  on  his  head.  With 
a  cry  of  pain  and  amazement  the  man  fell  senseless.  Mr. 
Durham  without  striking  another  blow  turned  on  the 
electric  light.  Quickly  seizing  a  clothes-line  he  bound 
securely  the  hands  and  feet  of  the  unconscious  man  and 
then  looked  around.  There  was  oil  everywhere.  The 
open  window  and  the  pile  of  oiled  paper  on  which  the 
senseless  man  lay  showed  that  discovery  had  come  in 
the  nick  of  time.  The  minister  thought  at  first  that  the 
desperado  was  a  colored  man,  but  soon  noticed  that  he 
was  only  a  blackened  white.  After  recovering  somewhat 
from  his  excitement  Mr.  Durham  knelt  beside  the  perpe- 
trator of  the  outrage  on  his  property  and  examined  his 
wound.  Blood  was  flowing  freely  from  a  severe  scalp 
wound  and  the  man  was  breathing  heavily. 

"  I  must  get  a  doctor  at  once,"  he  said  to  himself,  as 
he  dragged  the  man  out  of  the  oil-soaked  kitchen  onto 
the  porch  and  put  a  pillow  under  his  head.  The  man 
was  still  unconscious  and  Mr.  Durham  became  alarmed 
lest  he  had  struck  a  fatal  blow,  and  hurried  away  to  Dr. 


THE  FIRE  AT  HARBISON  261 

Rankin's  home.  Arriving  at  the  doctor's  home,  which 
was  only  a  short  distance  away,  Mr.  Durham  was  about 
to  ring  the  night  bell  when  a  glow  towards  the  north 
attracted  him.  He  looked  intently  and  was  soon  con- 
vinced it  was  a  fire  out  in  the  neighborhood  of  Harbison 
Institute.  He  rang  the  bell  furiously.  There  was  no 
response.  The  doctor  had  returned  only  an  hour  before 
from  a  long  night  trip  in  the  country  and  he  was  asleep. 
At  the  second  ringing  of  the  door  bell  the  doctor  awoke, 
and  going  to  the  speaking  tube  inquired  who  was  there. 

"  This  is  Mr.  Durham,  doctor.  Come  quick,"  was  the 
response  in  such  agitated  tones  that  Dr.  Rankin  was 
alarmed.  He  dressed  hurriedly,  seized  his  medicine 
case  and  rushed  downstairs. 

By  this  time  the  flames  of  the  fire  on  the  north  side  of 
Dothan  were  distinctly  visible,  and  it  was  evident  that 
Harbison  Institute  was  on  fire. 

"What's  wrong,  Mr.  Durham?"  asked  the  doctor. 
The  minister  hastily  explained  the  attempt  to  burn  his 
house  and  how  he  had  frustrated  it. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  killed  the  fellow,"  said  the  minister. 
"  I  did  not  think  I  struck  such  a  heavy  blow.  But,  look 
there,  doctor,"  went  on  Mr.  Durham,  pointing  towards 
the  north.  "  The  Institute  is  on  fire.  Go  back  to  my 
home  and  then  hurry  out  to  Harbison.  They  may  need 
you  there.     I  will  hurry  out  to  the  school." 

The  doctor  at  once  started  for  the  parsonage  while  the 
minister  hurried  on  to  Harbison.  As  Mr.  Durham  came 
nearer  he  was  able  to  distinguish  the  buildings  which  were 
blazing  and  he  saw  with  horror  that  one  of  the  burning 
houses  was  the  Boys'  Dormitory,  which  he  well  knew 
would  be  crowded  on  its  second  and  third  floors  with 
sleeping  students. 

Shouting  "  Fire,  fire,"  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  the  old 


262  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

minister  hastened  his  pace  to  a  run.  When  he  finally; 
reached  the  Harbison  gate  he  was  well-nigh  exhausted, 
but  he  kept  on  running  up  the  avenue.  A  terrible  sight 
met  his  gaze.  The  campus  was  covered  with  half- 
dressed  students  rushing  about  terror-stricken.  On  the 
grass  lay  a  large  number  of  injured  boys,  some  moaning 
and  some  shrieking  in  agony.  The  large  dormitory  was 
a  mass  of  flames,  lighting  up  the  entire  campus  with 
lurid  light.  The  fire  company  had  already  arrived,  but 
the  men  occupied  themselves  in  saving  the  remaining 
buildings,  as  the  two  on  fire  were  already  gutted.  Mr. 
Durham  was  gazing  in  awe  at  the  fearful  spectacle,  when 
he  was  aroused  by  a  woman's  voice  saying  to  him,  "  For 
God's  sake,  sir,  help  us  to  care  for  these  injured  boys. 
Our  students  are  panic-stricken."  The  minister  looked 
around  and  recognized  Rose  Atkinson.  "  This  is  awful, 
Miss  Atkinson.  I  am  Mr.  Durham.  What  can  I  do  to 
help?" 

"  How  glad  I  am  to  see  you,"  said  the  girl.  "  We 
have  some  stretchers  and  we  want  the  injured  carried  into 
the  President's  house.  We  expect  some  doctors  at 
once." 

"  I  will  attend  to  these  poor  fellows,"  said  the  minis- 
ter. Mr.  Durham  quickly  procured  the  stretchers  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  others  from  among  the 
crowd  which  was  collecting  he  was  soon  busily  engaged 
in  carrying  the  injured  to  the  President's  house,  where 
arrangements  had  been  made  to  render  them  all  assistance 
possible.  He  was  about  to  lift  one  of  them,  who  lay  on 
the  grass  motionless,  when  he  was  surprised  to  hear  a 
voice  which  sounded  familiar  to  him  gasp  out,  "  Help 
the  others  first.     I  fear  I  am  done  for." 

"  Is  it  really  you,  Jefferson  Lilly  ?  "  said  Mr.  Durham, 
kneeling  quickly  by  his  side. 


THE  FIRE  AT  HARBISON  263 

"  This  is  Jefferson  Lilly,"  said  the  other  feebly.  "  Help 
the  others  first." 

"  Are  you  seriously  hurt  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Durham,  with 
emotion. 

There  was  no  answer.  Jefferson  Lilly  had  lost  con- 
sciousness. 

At  that  moment  the  police  ambulance  came  tearing  up 
the  avenue  and  the  policemen  jumped  out  and  inquired 
if  they  could  be  of  any  assistance. 

"  Take  this  man  quickly  to  Dothan  Hospital,"  said 
Mr.  Durham  quickly.  "  He  is  fatally  hurt,  I  fear. 
Hurry." 

Two  burly  policemen  tenderly  lift^ii  the  unconscious 
form  of  Jefferson,  placed  him  in  the  ambulance,  and 
drove  away. 

"  Where  is  Dr.  Furber?"  inquired  Mr.  Durham,  when 
he  had  brought  in  the  last  of  the  injured,  and  sank  rn 
weariness  in  a  chair. 

"  He  is  seeking  to  calm  our  poor  students,"  replied 
Rose.  "  They  are  crazed  with  fear.  Is  not  this  terri- 
ble?" 

Dr.  Rankin  and  another  physician  had  arrived,  mean- 
while, and  were  busily  engaged  ministering  to  the  burned 
and  bleeding  negro  lads. 

"Were  any  lives  lost?"  Mr.  Durham  inquired  when 
first  aid  had  been  rendered  to  all  the  injured,  and  there 
was  an  opportunity  for  further  conversation.  Tears 
came  into  the  girl's  eyes  and  her  voice  trembled  as  she 
answered,  "  Yes,  three  were  burnt  alive  and  one  of  them 
was  Nafti  Thomas." 

"  Nafti  Thomas,"  exclaimed  Dr.  Rankin,  looking  up 
with  startled  eyes. 

"  He  could  have  escaped,"  continued  Rose,  "  but  he  was 
helping  the  others  on  the  second  floor  to  reach  safety. 


264  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

He  succeeded  in  arousing  and  saving  all  but  two.  Nafti 
died  as  he  lived." 

"My  God,  Nafti,"  said  Dr.  Rankin.  "I  loved  that 
boy.  I  was  convinced  he  would  be  a  second  Frederick 
Douglass  or  Booker  Washington.  What  will  his  poor 
father  do?" 

Just  then,  Dr.  Furber,  pale  and  trembling,  staggered 
into  the  room.  Mr.  Durham  arose  unsteadily  to  meet 
him.  Their  hands  met  and  they  looked  into  each  other's 
eyes.  Tears  rolled  down  the  cheeks  of  both  as  Mr.  Dur- 
ham said  brokenly,  "  May  God  help  you,  brother." 

Dr.  Furber  made  no  reply.  He  could  not  trust  him- 
self to  speak,  but  the  deep  and  sincere  sympathy  of  the 
pastor  of  Calvary  Church  was  the  first  encouragement 
which  cheered  him  under  the  awful  strain.  "  Where  is 
Jefferson  Lilly  ?  "  he  asked,  recovering  himself  somewhat. 
"  He  had  a  fearful  fall.  He  was  the  last  to  leave  the 
third  floor,  and  the  rope  gave  way  before  he  was  half  way 
to  the  ground." 

Mr.  Durham  told  of  finding  him  amongst  the  injured 
and  of  sending  him  direct  to  the  hospital. 

"  I  must  go  out  again,"  said  Dr.  Furber,  a  little  later. 
"  Our  poor  boys  are  frightened  to  death.  They  tremble 
at  the  sight  of  a  white  man,  thinking  they  are  all  going 
to  be  shot." 

"  Let  me  go  along,"  said  Mr.  Durham.  "  I  think  I  can 
help  you  to  quiet  them." 

Huddled  together  like  frightened  sheep,  the  colored 
students  cowered  by  the  side  of  the  President's  house  in 
a  pitiable  state  of  panic.  The  injury  to  Jefferson  Lilly 
and  the  death  of  Nafti  Thomas  had  deprived  them  of 
their  two  most  trusted  friends,  and  they  had  lost  con- 
trol of  themselves  completely.  It  was  pitiable  the  way 
they  clung  to  Dr.  Furber,  begging  him  not  to  leave  them. 


THE  FIRE  AT  HARBISON  263 

Fortunately,  there  was  no  panic  amongst  the  girl  stu- 
dents, as  their  dormitory  was  in  no  danger  of  fire  and,  at 
Rose  Atkinson's  request,  Mrs.  Wiley,  the  matron,  gath- 
ered the  girls  together  in  their  large  dining-room  to  pray. 

Seeing  how  they  shrunk  from  him  as  soon  as  they  saw 
he  was  a  white  man,  Mr.  Durham  shouted  out,  "  I  am 
your  friend,  Rev.  William  Durham.  Do  you  not  re- 
member the  welcome  you  gave  me  a  short  time  ago?" 
Soon  as  he  saw  he  had  their  attention,  he  went  on,  "  When 
I  saw  you  the  other  day  I  was  pleased  to  see  you  were 
learning  such  useful  lessons  in  Harbison.  To-night  God 
is  teaching  you  a  lesson  more  important  than  all  else. 
Learn  in  this  dreadful  hour  to  trust  God  amid  fire  and 
death.  Say  in  your  heart,  '  Though  He  slay  me  yet  will 
I  trust  Him.'  Remember  His  promise,  '  When  thou 
walkest  through  the  fire  thou  shalt  not  be  burned ;  neither 
shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee.'  Show  yourselves  men 
to-night  worthy  of  Harbison.  No  one  will  harm  you. 
We  are  all  your  friends." 

The  colored  boys  heard  and  understood.  They  be- 
came calmer  and  soon,  at  Dr.  Furber's  request,  a  "  camp  " 
was  made  beside  the  house  and  the  over-wrought  nerves 
of  the  colored  youths  were  rested  in  quiet  watching 
through  the  night. 

Dr.  Rankin,  Mr.  Durham,  Rose  Atkinson,  and  another 
physician  spent  the  rest  of  the  night  in  caring  for  those 
who  were  hurt,  and  assisting  Dr.  Furber  in  every  way 
that  was  possible. 

The  next  day  was  one  long  remembered  in  Dothan. 
Never  before  was  the  town,  white  and  black  alike,  so  dis- 
turbed and  so  saddened.  Early  in  the  morning  the  campus 
was  filled  with  a  mass  of  sympathizing  friends,  white  and 
colored  alike.  For  one  day  there  was  no  color  line  in 
Dothan.     As  they  gazed  on  the  smouldering  ruins,  which 


266  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

held  the  ashes  of  three  colored  students,  tears  flowed 
freely,  and  when  the  full  facts  were  known  in  regard  to 
the  origin  of  the  fatal  fire,  the  indignation  of  the  people 
knew  no  bounds.  Mr.  Durham  and  Dr.  Furber  investi- 
gated the  ruins  and  it  was  plain  that  the  dread  catas- 
trophe had  been  caused  by  an  incendiary.  "  My  own 
house  was  set  on  fire,  but  two  students,  who  sleep  in  the 
lower  rooms,  were  able  to  put  it  out,"  said  the  President 
as  they  gazed  at  the  ruins  of  the  Boys'  Dormitory.  Then 
for  the  first  time  Mr.  Durham  told  of  the  attempt  on  his 
own  home,  and  how  the  perpetrator  had  been  caught. 
"  He  is  still  at  my  home,"  said  Mr.  Durham,  "  bound 
hand  and  foot.  None  but  my  servants  and  Dr.  Rankin 
know  anything  about  it,  as  I  fear  the  people  might  be 
roused  to  a  savage  fury  if  they  knew.  Dr.  Rankin  says 
that  I  did  not  seriously  injure  him." 

Dr.  Furber  was  dumfounded  at  Mr.  Durham's  re- 
marks. "  It  was  a  fiendish  plot  to  destroy  us  all,"  he 
said,  after  a  pause.  "  The  dastards  who  wrought  this 
awful  deed,"  said  Mr.  Durham,  with  a  fierce  earnestness, 
"  were  merely  the  paid  hirelings  of  a  master  villain.  I 
well  know  the  hand  that  really  struck  this  diabolical  blow, 
but  it  is  his  last  wild  work.  Peter  Legree  will  never  be 
heard  of  again." 

"  Ah,"  replied  Dr.  Furber,  "  you  think  it  was  his 
work?" 

"  There  is  not  a  single  doubt  of  it.  My  prisoner,  I  am 
assured,  will  make  a  full  confession." 

Rose  Atkinson  had  borne  the  terrible  news  of  her 
brother's  death  to  Martha  Thomas  the  night  before.  She 
controlled  herself  well,  but  kept  murmuring  in  agony, 
"  My  poor  father,  my  poor  father."  Mose  Thomas  him- 
self was  out  in  the  country  and  did  not  return  until  about 
noon  the  day  after  the  fire. 


THE  FIRE  AT  HARBISON  267 

Amongst  the  very  first  to  arrive  on  the  Harbison 
grounds  in  the  morning  were  Donald  Shelby,  who  had 
not  been  awakened  during  the  night,  and  Mr.  Ashley. 
Mr.  Ashley  seemed  like  a  man  in  a  dream  at  first,  but  he 
soon  aroused  himself,  as  though  he  had  become  a  new 
man,  and  he  and  Donald  led  in  the  attempts  to  discover 
and  rescue  the  ashes  of  the  three  victims.  At  the  risk  of 
their  lives,  for  the  walls  continued  to  fall  during  the 
morning,  these  two,  with  a  few  other  daring  youths,  kept 
up  the  search,  until  at  last  a  handful  of  human  ashes 
was  discernible.  Before  it  was  safe  to  attempt  to  reach 
the  spot  Donald  made  a  dash,  and  soon  returned  with 
the  pitiful  remains  of  Nafti.  They  were  identified  at 
once  by  Dr.  Furber  by  a  little  silver  cross,  which  Nafti 
had  worn  as  a  watch-charm.  Strangely  enough  the  little 
cross  was  uninjured  and  Dr.  Furber  eagerly  seized  it,  as 
he  knew  Nafti's  father  would  prize  it  as  a  remembrance 
of  his  brilliant  son.  A  few  hours  later  the  other  two  lit- 
tle heaps  of  bones  and  ashes  were  found,  and  a  sigh  of 
relief  went  up  from  the  vast  crowd. 

The  most  tragic  sight  of  all  was  the  appearance  of 
Nafti's  father.  Hearing  of  the  burning  of  Harbison  he 
had  hurried  in  from  the  country,  and  came  direct  to  the 
grounds.  His  daughter,  with  tear-stained  face,  had  been 
watching  for  him  all  morning,  and  as  soon  as  she  saw 
him  coming  she  ran  towards  him  with  outstretched  arms. 
Mose  Thomas  guessed  at  once  the  cause  of  her  awful  dis- 
tress. "  Is  Nafti  dead?  "  he  cried.  For  answer  the  un- 
fortunate girl  threw  her  arms  around  her  father's  neck 
and  burst  into  uncontrollable  weeping.  The  poor  father 
groaned  in  anguish,  but  sought  to  comfort  his  child,  and 
weeping  together  they  went  towards  the  President's 
house.  There  was  not  a  dry  eye  in  the  throng  of  on- 
lookers.    Mr.  Ashley,  weeping  like  a  child,  was  stand- 


268  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

ing  by  the  side  of  Donald  Shelby,  when  the  heart-broken 
father  and  daughter  passed.  "  May  God  forgive  me," 
Donald  heard  him  murmur,  and  Donald  knew  that  Mr. 
Ashley's  strange  theory  in  regard  to  the  colored  race 
was  gone  forever  from  his  mind.  Dr.  Furber  had 
dreaded  his  awful  task  of  giving  the  ashes  and  bones  of 
Nafti  to  his  father.  The  poor  man  received  them  with 
bowed  head.  His  whole  body  shook,  and  at  last,  with  a 
shriek,  he  fell  unconscious.  Tender  hands  ministered  to 
him,  and  an  hour  later  Donald  Shelby  drove  him  home, 
partially  recovered,  his  daughter,  Martha,  supporting  him 
in  the  carriage.  As  they  passed  the  still  smoking  ruins 
of  the  dormitory,  he  waved  his  hand  toward  the  burned 
building,  and  his  deep  sighs  and  groans  were  heart-break- 
ing. 

As  Mr.  Durham  saw  the  tears  of  the  people  of  Dothan, 
weeping  in  sympathy,  he  said  to  himself,  "  Nafti  Thomas 
has  not  died  in  vain." 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

AFTER  THE  FIRE 

When  Jefferson  Lilly  was  carried  into  the  Dothan 
Hospital  he  was  still  unconscious.  A  physician  at  once 
examined  him  and  found  one  of  his  arms  broken  and 
signs  of  internal  injuries.  He  did  not  recover  conscious- 
ness until  morning.  Looking  around  the  room  in  a  be- 
wildered way,  he  exclaimed,  "  Where  am  I  ?  " 

"  In  the  hospital,"  answered  the  nurse,  quietly.  "  You 
were  brought  in  from  the  Harbison  fire  last  night." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  remember.  I  fell.  Does  the  doctor  think 
that  I  am  seriously  hurt?  " 

Just  at  that  moment  the  doctor  stepped  into  the  room 
and  heard  his  last  question.  "  I  am  sorry  to  say,  sir," 
he  replied,  "  that  you  are  dangerously  injured.  Have  you 
any  friends  that  you  would  like  us  to  notify?  We  will 
do  the  best  we  can  for  you,  but  complications  may 
arise." 

Jefferson  Lilly  pondered  a  moment  and  then  said 
slowly,  "  Ask  Florence  Ashley  to  call  and  see  me.  Tell 
her  my  condition  and  say  that  I  request  her  presence." 

A  few  moments  later  the  telephone  bell  rang  in  the 
Ashley  home.  Although  it  was  early  the  household  was 
astir,  as  they  had  heard  the  news  of  Harbison's  calam- 
ity, and  Mr.  Ashley  had  already  gone  to  the  scene  of  the 
fire.  Florence  answered  the  call  herself,  and  the  nurse 
at  the  hospital  gave  Jefferson's  message.     The  girl  trem- 

269 


270  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

bled  when  she  heard,  but  she  answered  without  a  mo- 
ment's hesitation,  "  Tell  him  I  will  come  at  once." 

Saying  nothing  to  anyone,  she  hurried  out  on  the 
street.  Excited  crowds  were  hastening  out  to  Harbi- 
son, and  she  overheard  someone  say,  "  I  understand  that 
a  number  of  the  students  and  one  of  the  teachers  were 
killed,  and  that  several  more  were  fatally  hurt." 

"  I  may  be  too  late,"  she  said  to  herself,  as  she  quick- 
ened her  pace.  The  last  few  blocks  she  almost  ran,  and 
when  she  reached  the  hospital  she  was  breathless  and 
greatly  agitated.  Entering  the  hall  she  almost  collided 
with  a  young  lady  who  was  just  leaving  the  institution. 
"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  she  began,  and  then  exclaimed, 
"  Rose  Atkinson  —  I  am  so  glad  you  are  safe,"  and  she 
fell  on  the  neck  of  the  Harbison  teacher  and  kissed  her 
cheek. 

The  genuine  sympathy  of  the  Southern  girl's  sweet 
voice  melted  the  heart  of  Rose.  Her  overstrained  nerves 
gave  way,  and  she  began  to  weep  convulsively  in  the  arms 
of  Florence.  The  latter  was  alarmed.  "  Is  he  really 
dead  ?  "  she  asked,  tremblingly,  tears  coming  to  her  own 
eyes. 

Rose  knew  at  once  to  whom  she  referred  and  answered 
quickly,  "  No,  no.  Jefferson  Lilly  still  lives,  but  three 
of  our  students  were  burned  to  death  and  our  work 
seems  ruined." 

"  Do  not  despair,"  replied  Florence,  almost  cheerfully, 
so  great  was  her  relief  to  know  that  her  fears  for  Jef- 
ferson were  groundless.  "  This  fire  has  not  destroyed 
Harbison.  Many  of  us  have  seen  a  new  light  in  the  past 
few  hours.  Forgive  me  for  my  treatment  of  you. 
Henceforth  we  are  to  be  friends." 

They  parted,  but  her  words  cheered  the  desolate  heart 
of  the  young  philanthropist,   and   she   returned  to  the 


AFTER  THE  FIRE  271 

ruins  of  Harbison  with  a  new  courage.  Like  Mr.  Dur- 
ham, she  said  to  herself,  "  Nafti  Thomas  has  not  died  in 
vain." 

After  leaving  Rose  Atkinson,  Florence  soon  found  her- 
self at  the  door  of  Jefferson's  room.  "  Do  not  talk  much 
and  do  not  excite  him,"  cautioned  the  nurse,  as  she  ush- 
ered the  girl  into  the  room  and  then  left  them  alone.  Jef- 
ferson lay  helpless  on  his  back,  but  his  pale  face  bright- 
ened and  his  eyes  lit  up  with  joy  as  the  girl  entered. 
Before  he  could  say  a  word  she  was  on  her  knees  by  the 
side  of  the  bed,  and  was  saying,  "  Jefferson,  dear,  I  am 
so  glad  you  sent  for  me.  I  have  come  at  once.  Are  you 
badly  hurt?" 

Without  a  word  he  reached  out  his  right  hand,  which 
was  uninjured,  and  she  seized  it  in  both  of  hers  and 
pressed  it  to  her  lips.  A  thrill  of  gladness  went  through 
the  broken  body  of  the  injured  man.  "  It  was  worth  all 
the  pain  I  have  suffered  to  see  you  again,  Florence,"  he 
murmured.     "  I  have  waited  a  long  time  for  this." 

The  two  conversed  only  a  short  time  together  when  the 
nurse  appeared. 

"  I  shall  get  well,  Florence,"  he  said,  in  parting.  "  Your 
visit  has  been  like  an  elixir  of  life." 

"  I  shall  return  in  the  afternoon,"  she  promised,  and 
she  went  away  with  a  great  joy  in  her  soul.  Her  second 
visit,  later  in  the  day,  was  prolonged  for  almost  an  hour, 
and  Jefferson  felt  so  well  that  he  was  able  to  discuss  some 
of  his  future  plans. 

Florence  told  him  of  her  father's  new  views  as  a  result 
of  the  fire,  and  Jefferson  was  delighted.  "  Father  says 
that  the  white  citizens  of  Dothan  are  already  planning  to 
raise  enough  money  to  rebuild  Harbison  on  a  larger  scale 
than  ever,"  she  told  him. 

"  Do  you  think  that  he  would  consent  to  allow  you  to 


272  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

live  on  the  campus  if  I  built  a  house  there?"  Jefferson 
asked. 

The  girl  smiled  and  replied,  "  You  never  asked  me  if 
I  would  consent  to  live  in  such  a  house." 

Jefferson  took  her  hand  in  his  and  asked  earnestly, 
"  Will  you  not  give  yourself  with  me  to  this  glorious  work 
of  uplifting  a  race?" 

"  Where  you  go,  Jefferson,  I  will  go,"  she  answered. 

"  All  Dothan  is  now  enthusiastic  for  a  new  and  greater 
Harbison,  and  I  have  become  as  foolish  as  the  rest. 
Mother  says  we  are  all  going  crazy." 

"  No,"  said  Jefferson,  earnestly,  "  Dothan  is  coming 
to  its  senses,  as  I  well  knew  it  would  some  day." 

That  evening  the  doctor  pronounced  Jefferson  out  of  all 
danger,  and  expressed  surprise  at  his  marvelous  recov- 
ery. "  You  will  be  up  in  a  few  days,"  he  exclaimed. 
"  This  morning  I  did  not  see  how  you  could  live." 

"  I  had  a  medicine  to-day  which  cures  both  soul  and 
body,"  said  Jefferson,  smilingly,  while  the  doctor  know- 
ingly nodded  his  head. 

Florence  Ashley's  assertion  that  the  fire  had  aroused 
all  Dothan  to  the  enthusiastic  support  of  Harbison  In- 
stitute was  the  actual  fact.  As  the  day  following  the 
fire  wore  on  it  became  known  that  the  fire  was  incendiary 
in  origin  and  that  Legree  was  responsible  for  the  tragedy. 
Neither  he  nor  Larkin  were  to  be  found  anywhere  in  the 
city,  and  it  was  reported  that  they  had  left  Dothan  dis- 
guised as  colored  men. 

Mr.  Ashley,  Donald  Shelby,  Rev.  William  Durham, 
and  a  number  of  other  prominent  citizens  agreed  to  take 
charge  of  the  funeral  of  Nafti  Thomas,  and  a  telegram 
was  sent  to  Tuskegee  asking  President  Booker  T.  Wash- 
ington to  come  and  preach  the  funeral  sermon.  Dr. 
Washington  accepted  the  invitation,  and  the  funeral  was 


AFTER  THE  FIRE  273 

held  in  the  open  air  on  the  Harbison  campus.  Neither 
Mose  Thomas  nor  Martha  were  able  to  be  present,  as 
they  were  still  prostrated,  and  the  doctor  now  feared  that 
the  father  could  not  rally.  The  funeral  was  a  memora- 
ble occasion.  The  whites  and  blacks  for  many  miles 
gathered  together  with  one  consent,  and  the  crowds  were 
enormous.  A  temporary  platform  had  been  built  on  a 
convenient  spot  from  which  Booker  T.  Washington 
spoke.  The  choir  of  Dr.  Brown's  church,  of  which  Nafti 
was  a  member,  rendered  a  sacred  selection,  "  Oh,  when  I 
come  to  die,  give  me  Jesus,  give  me  Jesus." 

President  Furber,  with  trembling  voice,  read  part  of 
the  fourteenth  chapter  of  John's  Gospel,  and  then  a 
young  white  lady  came  forward  to  sing  a  solo.  A  hushed 
murmur  of  astonishment  went  over  the  crowd  as  they  rec- 
ognized Florence  Ashley.  The  crowd  became  still  as  a 
forest  on  a  summer's  eve,  and  above  them  floated  the 
beautiful  words: 

"  Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 
Nearer  to  Thee; 
E'en  though   it  be  a  cross 
That  raiseth  me." 

When  she  had  finished  there  was  hardly  a  dry  eye  in 
the  vast  assembly.  Booker  T.  Washington  began  to 
speak  slowly  and  distinctly.  It  was  evident  that  the 
great  educator  was  laboring  to  restrain  himself.  "  The 
blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the  seed  of  earth's  best  harvests," 
he  began,  "  and  it  is  Nafti  Thomas,  the  martyr,  for  whom 
we  mourn  to-day.  His  tragic  fate  has  touched  all  your 
hearts,  and  drawn  white  and  black  together  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  this  gifted  son  of  Dothan." 

The  entire  audience  was  listening  in  sympathy.  Tears 
began  to  flow  down  many  cheeks  as  the  speaker  went  on, 


274s  THE  testing  fire 

with  breaking  voice,  "  When  I  was  in  Dothan  some 
months  ago  I  met  Nafti  Thomas  for  the  first  and  last 
time.  Little  did  I  think  it  was  to  be  the  last.  I  had 
hoped  to  see  him  in  a  few  years  a  leader  of  his  race. 
Alas,  our  hopes  are  blighted,  our  expectations  have 
failed,  our  hearts  are  broken,  our  tears  are  falling,  for 
Nafti  Thomas  is  no  more." 

Here  the  company  of  students  gathered  near  the  plat- 
form on  the  right  of  the  speaker  could  no  longer  restrain 
themselves.  Weeping  aloud,  their  cries  drowned  the 
voice  of  the  speaker,  and  he  was  compelled  to  cease  until 
the  storm  of  grief  had  spent  itself. 

When  calm  was  restored,  Dr.  Washington  stood  erect 
again.  He  raised  his  right  hand  high  above  his  head 
and  in  a  voice  of  thunder  cried,  "  But  Nafti  Thomas  is 
not  dead.  He  lives  to-day.  He  shall  live  forever.  His 
name  shall  be  a  beacon  of  hope  for  every  colored  boy  and 
dark-skinned  girl  until  the  end  of  time." 

The  speaker  lowered  his  voice  as  he  continued,  "  He 
died  a  martyr  to  racial  hate  that  its  awful  bondage  might 
be  taken  away,  and  white  and  black  alike  unite  in  honest 
effort  for  mutual  well-being.  He  died  a  martyr  to 
wicked  prejudice  that  this  accursed  scourge  might  blight 
our  beloved  Southland  no  more.  He  died  that  Dothan 
might  be  free  and  Dothan's  future  is  now  secure."  The 
negro  orator  then  proceeded  to  speak  of  Nafti's  char- 
acter, his  earnestness,  his  simplicity,  his  devotion  to 
duty,  as  shown  in  his  life  and  death.  He  spoke  tenderly 
of  the  bereaved  father  and  sister,  and  commended  them 
to  the  sympathy  of  all.  Before  he  concluded  he  spoke 
also  with  telling  effect  on  the  future  relations  of  the  two 
races.  "  This  tragedy  has  not  divided  us.  It  has  brought 
us  closer  together.  We  are  not  enemies.  We  are 
friends.     The  white  people  of  the  South  love  the  colored 


AFTER  THE  FIRE  275 

race.  Does  not  this  service  in  memory  of  Nafti  Thomas 
prove  that  this  is  true  ?  We  black  men  owe  a  tremendous 
debt  to  our  white  neighbors.  No  race  in  all  the  world 
is  making  such  progress  as  we  are  making.  Let  us  be- 
come intelligent  and  industrious  citizens,  and  we  shall 
have  a  part,  along  with  the  white  race,  in  the  marvelous 
progress,  material  and  spiritual,  which  is  lifting  up  the 
South  to-day." 

After  the  address  by  Booker  T.  Washington,  Rev. 
William  Durham  led  in  prayer,  and  the  services  were 
closed  by  the  singing  of  a  hymn. 

The  interment  of  the  ashes  of  the  martyred  student 
was  in  a  corner  of  the  campus  where  the  citizens  proposed 
to  erect  a  suitable  monument  to  the  youth's  memory. 

After  the  funeral  Donald  Shelby  called  on  Jefferson 
at  the  hospital.  He  had  only  seen  his  injured  friend  for 
a  few  moments  the  day  before,  and  as  Jefferson  was  now 
able  to  sit  up  in  bed  they  had  a  long  talk,  and  Donald 
told  him  regarding  developments  at  Harbison. 

"  Terrible  as  this  tragedy  has  been,"  said  Donald, 
earnestly,  u  I  am  convinced  that  God  has  already  over- 
ruled it  for  good.  It  has  meant  the  complete  downfall 
of  Legreeism  in  our  community." 

Donald  then  narrated  fully  regarding  the  attempt  on 
Mr.  Durham's  house,  and  the  confession  of  the  minis- 
ter's prisoner.  "  The  fellow  has  been  taken  to  jail  in 
Montgomery,"  said  Donald,  "  as  we  did  not  wish  to  take 
any  risk  of  mob  violence."  He  told  of  Legree's  disap- 
pearance, and  of  the  interest  the  citizens  were  showing 
in  plans  for  the  rebuilding  of  Harbison. 

"  Our  city  caucus  is  to  be  held  to-morrow  evening," 
Donald  exclaimed,  "  and  a  number  of  us  are  planning 
to  make  it  a  mass  meeting  in  which  our  community  can 
have  a  new  birth  of  freedom.     Dr.  Furber  will  be  there, 


276  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

and  Mr.  Ashley  and  others  will  speak.  I  am  going  to 
make  a  speech  myself  as  well." 

Jefferson  listened  with  growing  enthusiasm.  "  Were 
it  not  for  the  death  of  our  students  I  would  feel  that 
this  fire  has  been  a  blessing  in  every  way,"  he  responded. 
"  To  see  Mr.  Ashley  working  for  Harbison  as  he  is  doing 
is  worth  everything  to  me." 

"  Perhaps  even  Florence  may  become  interested  in 
the  school,"  put  in  Donald,  hesitatingly,  fearing  that  he 
was  treading  on  dangerous  ground. 

"  Florence  is  already  with  us  heart  and  soul,"  ex- 
claimed Jefferson.  "  She  and  I  have  everything  all 
arranged  except  the  day." 

"  What !  "  almost  shouted  Donald. 

"  It's  all  true,"  rejoined  the  other.  "  Florence  and 
I  have  everything  all  arranged,  and  we  think  we  will  be 
able  to  allow  Rose  Atkinson  to  take  up  the  training  of  a 
Southern  white  man  in  case  it  were  necessary.  Flor- 
ence can  take  her  place  at  Harbison." 

Donald  began  to  see  that  there  was  a  mistake  some- 
where, so  he  eagerly  asked  Jefferson,  "  You  are  not  en- 
gaged to  Rose  yourself  then  ?  " 

"  Who  ever  told  you  such  a  thing  ?  "  asked  Jefferson, 
in  astonishment. 

"  Horace  Speedwell  told  me  that  you  and  she  were  en- 
gaged," said  Donald,  "  and  I  was  the  most  miserable  man 
in  all  Alabama." 

"  I  wondered  why  you  acted  so  strangely  towards  me 
lately,"  said  Jefferson,  and  the  two  friends  shook  hands 
heartily. 

"  At  any  rate,"  said  Donald  after  a  while,  "  I  know 
something  of  what  you  have  been  suffering  for  these 
months.  I  congratulate  you  sincerely.  Florence  is  the 
second  best  girl  in  the  world." 


AFTER  THE  FIRE  277 

"  No,  she  is  the  first,"  persisted  Jefferson. 

That  evening  Donald  sought  Rose  Atkinson,  and  told 
her  the  news  of  the  engagement  of  Florence  and  Jeffer- 
son. 

"  I  saw  Florence  for  a  moment  at  the  hospital,"  said 
Rose,  "  and  I  guessed  that  Jefferson  had  at  last  won 
his  suit.  She  is  like  a  new  girl  altogether  since  our 
tragedy." 

"Jefferson  thinks  that  she  can  relieve  you  of  your 
work  at  Harbison,"  suggested  Donald,  slowly. 

"  We  will  have  to  wait  and  see  about  that,"  Rose  an- 
swered, but  she  smiled  so  graciously  that  Donald  was 
content  to  wait. 

"  I  hear  you  are  to  speak  at  the  caucus  to-morrow 
night,"  she  said,  as  they  parted.  "  The  gallery  has  been 
reserved  for  the  women,  and  Mrs.  Furber  and  I  will  be 
present." 

"  I  shall  remember  you  are  present  when  I  make  my 
speech,"  said  Donald.  "  It  will  be  the  opportunity  of 
my  life." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

A  SPEECH   THAT   MADE   HISTORY 

The  citizens'  caucus  of  Dothan  was  held  the  next 
evening.  By  a  strange  coincidence  it  had  happened  that 
this  general  meeting  of  the  white  citizens  was  to  be 
held  at  this  time  to  arrange  for  the  coming  election  of 
city  officials.  Formerly  Peter  Legree  had  dominated 
these  caucuses  from  beginning  to  end  but  from  the  start 
it  was  evident  that  night  that  Legree's  reign  was  over 
in  Dothan  for  all  time.  The  minds  of  the  people  were 
still  filled  with  the  Harbison  catastrophe,  and  there  was 
a  spirit  manifest  on  all  sides  that  Legreeism  in  any  form 
was  intolerable.  Legree  himself  and  his  closest  hench- 
men had  all  disappeared,  and  the  way  was  clear  for  a 
complete  political  renovation.  Deacon  Leavitt  was  made 
the  chairman  of  the  meeting,  and  his  introductory  speech 
emphasized  the  crisis  of  the  hour.  "  Dothan's  new  day 
has  been  dawning  for  some  time.  It  is  now  upon  us," 
he  exclaimed. 

Before  the  regular  business  of  the  caucus  was  taken  up, 
Dr.  Furber  was  invited  to  address  the  meeting  in  regard 
to  the  future  plans  of  the  institution  over  which  he  pre- 
sided. He  spoke  briefly,  but  the  hearty  applause  which 
greeted  his  statement  that  the  fire  meant  only  a  greater 
and  better  Harbison  showed  that  the  policy  of  Rose  At- 
kinson had  at  last  been  crowned  with  complete  success, 
and  that  the  white  citizens  were  now  unanimous  in  their 

278 


A  SPEECH  THAT  MADE  HISTORY      279 

support  of  the  institution  for  the  education  and  uplift  of 
the  negro  race. 

Following  the  speech  of  Dr.  Furber,  Rev.  William 
Durham  came  to  the  platform.  He  was  greeted  with  a 
round  of  applause,  and  his  address  was  listened  to  with 
the  closest  attention. 

"  My  brethren,"  he  began,  in  a  conversational  tone, 
"  it  is  with  much  pleasure  that  I  am  here  to-night.  I 
believe  we  see  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  our  beau- 
tiful city.  We  are  following  in  the  footsteps  of  the 
angel  of  progress  which  has  been  leading  our  beloved 
South  out  of  darkness  and  into  light  for  the  past  fifty 
years.  I  confess  that  Dothan  has  lagged  behind  the  pro- 
cession. We  have  allowed  our  fellow-Southerners  of 
other  places  to  lead  far  in  advance.  But  now  our  march- 
ing orders  have  come." 

When  he  spoke  these  words,  Mr.  Durham  stepped 
forward,  and  raised  his  voice  until  it  resounded  through 
the  large  building.  One  thousand  men  leaned  forward 
as  he  continued,  "  In  ancient  days  when  God's  people 
were  directed  from  heaven  to  advance,  the  pillar  of  fire 
by  night  lit  up  their  pathway  and  they  marched  for- 
ward after  God.  We,  too,  are  God's  people,  and  we 
have  seen  God's  pillar  of  fire  by  night.  The  flames  of 
Harbison  have  lit  up  our  pathway  and  to-night  we  are 
following  God.  We  are  marching  to  freedom.  We  have 
been  in  the  bondage  of  race  prejudice,  the  most  de- 
grading serfdom  that  ever  chained  a  nation  or  a  com- 
munity.    To-night  we  are  free." 

The  last  word  was  shouted  by  the  old  minister  in  his 
loudest  tone.  The  effect  was  electrical.  The  great  au- 
dience of  white  men  rose  to  their  feet,  tears  were  in 
their  eyes,  and  they  shouted  "  hurrah,  hurrah,"  until  the 
rafters  rang,  and  Mr.  Durham  had  to  motion  again  and 


280  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

again  for  silence.  When  he  could  again  make  himself 
heard,  the  minister  referred  touchingly  to  the  tragic 
death  of  Nafti  Thomas.  He  told  how  the  negro  youth 
had  saved  his  own  life  shortly  before.  "  He  risked  his 
life  that  day  to  save  me,"  said  Mr.  Durham  with  emo- 
tion, "  and  now  he  has  given  his  life  for  the  good  of  his 
race.  We  are  planning  a  monument  to  his  memory. 
It  is  well ;  but  we  can  honor  Nafti  Thomas  best  by  doing 
our  part  to  make  Harbison  Institute  the  pride  of  our 
city.  Let  a  greater  and  grander  Harbison,  supported 
by  our  united  sympathy,  be  the  abiding  monument  to  this 
noble  youth." 

Mr.  Durham  then  told  of  the  attack  on  his  own  home 
on  the  night  that  the  school  was  burned.  "  The  wretched 
hireling  who  had  sold  himself  to  do  the  diabolical  deed 
confessed  to  me  fully.  He  was  a  mere  tool.  He  told  of  the 
conspiracy  to  blot  out  Harbison,  engineered  by  that  viper 
which  we  nursed  in  our  bosom  so  long,  Peter  Legree." 

The  speaker  hissed  out  this  last  sentence  amid  a  tense 
silence.  For  a  moment  there  was  no  response,  as  Le- 
gree's  name  had  been  one  of  power  and  dread  so  long 
that  it  was  difficult  to  think  that  he  was  at  last  utterly 
vanquished.  But  in  a  moment  the  audience  realized 
the  situation,  and  led  by  Donald  Shelby,  they  were  shout- 
ing themselves  hoarse  over  the  victory  which  manhood 
had  achieved. 

After  the  minister  had  finished  his  address,  a  series 
of  resolutions  in  regard  to  the  burning  of  Harbison  were 
read.  They  were  strong  and  pointed,  condemning  the 
perpetrators  of  the  vile  crime,  urging  every  effort  pos- 
sible in  order  that  Peter  Legree  and  his  accomplices  be 
brought  to  justice,  and  promising  complete  support  and 
sympathy  to  the  institution. 


A  SPEECH  THAT  MADE  HISTORY     281 

"  Be  it  resolved,"  read  one  of  the  resolutions,  "  that 
we  ask  the  Governor  of  Alabama  to  offer  a  reward  of 
$5,000  for  the  arrest,  living  or  dead,  of  this  incendiary- 
fiend,  whose  awful  crime  is  almost  without  parallel  in  the 
history  of  our  State." 

The  resolutions  were  passed  unanimously  amid  intense 
enthusiasm,  after  which  Dr.  Furber  arose  to  express  his 
appreciation  of  the  action.  "  I  confess  I  have  not  un- 
derstood the  deep  sympathy  which  I  had  in  my  work 
until  this  calamity  has  shown  me  the  real  spirit  of  the 
white  man  in  Dothan.  I  ask  you  to  forgive  me  for  some 
unkindly  thoughts  I  have  had  towards  some  of  you. 
During  the  past  few  days  there  has  been  a  constant 
stream  of  white  men  and  white  women  coming  out  to 
Harbison  bringing  clothes  and  provisions,  and  I  am  over- 
whelmed with  your  goodness.  May  God  bless  you." 
The  President  of  Harbison  sat  down  in  tears,  and  a 
thrill  went  through  the  audience  as  Donald  Shelby  was 
noticed  making  his  way  to  the  front.  The  gallery  of 
the  Academy  of  Music,  where  the  caucus  was  held,  was 
filled  with  ladies,  who  had  looked  on  in  silence  and  won- 
der at  the  scene  below.  When  Donald  mounted  the  plat- 
form, and  the  men  greeted  him  with  a  rousing  cheer,  the 
ladies  joined,  for  the  first  time,  in  the  demonstration. 
Donald  glanced  upwards,  and  noticed  a  fair  face  on  the 
front  row  of  the  gallery  almost  in  front  of  him.  He 
recognized  Rose  Atkinson  at  once,  and  her  presence  filled 
his  soul  with  gladness.  Amid  tense  silence  he  began,  "  I 
•am  for  the  square  deal."  As  he  shouted  out  these  words 
he  raised  his  clenched  fist.  In  a  moment  pandemonium 
had  broken  loose.  Men  shouted  and  applauded.  They 
stood  up  on  their  seats.  They  waved  their  hats.  They 
shouted  again  and  again.     Donald  Shelby  had  touched 


282  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

the  most  powerful  sentiment  in  the  hearts  of  strong  men, 
and  his  audience  became  as  wax  in  his  hands. 

"  I  am  for  the  South,"  he  continued,  when  silence  had 
been  restored,  "  for  the  South  is  mine  own.  Her  peo- 
ple are  my  people  and  her  God  is  my  God."  The  great 
audience  had  settled  down  again,  but  the  speaker  dis- 
tinguished one  beaming  face  in  the  gallery,  and  he  went 
on  with  increasing  enthusiasm,  "  I  love  the  South ;  it 
is  the  land  where  my  fathers  died,  the  land  of  noble  his- 
tory, the  cradle  of  soldiers,  the  birthplace  of  patriots, 
and  the  home  of  statesmen." 

All  were  now  listening  intently,  and  in  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  hour  the  speaker  poured  out  his  soul,  "  Alabama 
is  the  land  where  first  I  knew  a  father's  care  and  a 
mother's  love.  I  cannot  speak  her  name  without  emo- 
tion. And  well  our  proud  State  is  worthy  of  all  praise. 
Has  she  not  wrested  magnificent  victory  out  of  defeat? 
Has  she  not  risen  from  the  anguish  of  despair  to  become 
one  of  the  fairest  and  most  prosperous  states  in  the 
Union?  Much  as  I  love  the  South,  I  love  Alabama 
more.  For  her  I  live  and  for  her  I  would  willingly  die. 
Citizens  of  the  proud  State  of  Alabama,  I  call  you  to- 
night to  arise  and  assert  your  manhood,  for  you  are 
worthy."  The  face  of  the  speaker  was  glowing  with  en- 
thusiasm. There  was  no  mistaking  the  pentecostal  power 
that  thrilled  his  soul. 

"  In  the  Providence  of  God  tragic  events  are  the  mo- 
ments of  crisis  in  the  history  of  individuals  and  of  so- 
ciety. The  lightning  bolt  that  struck  down  his  friend, 
Alexis,  near  the  gate  of  Erfurt,  awoke  to  life  the  dor- 
mant energy  in  the  spirit  of  Martin  Luther.  The  cruel 
stones  that  battered  the  martyr  Stephen  to  death  broke 
the  spell  that  bound  the  persecutor,  and  transformed 
the  blaspheming  Saul  into  matchless  Paul,  the  Apostle. 


A  SPEECH  THAT  MADE  HISTORY     283 

The  fire  that  destroyed  Harbison  and  burnt  to  ashes 
Nafti  Thomas  has  kindled  a  fire  of  patriotism  in  all  our 
souls,  and  fused  into  one  mass  the  manhood  of  Dothan." 

Again  the  vast  building  rang  with  applause,  and  Don- 
ald could  notice  a  little  white  handkerchief  flutter  in  the 
gallery. 

"  Politics  in  Dothan  have  touched  the  lowest  ebb.  Let 
us  be  honest  with  ourselves,  and  acknowledge  that  false 
voices  have  lured  us  astray.  We  have  listened  too  long 
to  the  ravings  of  men  who  have  told  us  that  the  danger 
to  the  South  lay  in  the  negro,  and  in  the  negro  alone.  It 
is  false,  false  as  hell."  Donald  was  now  thoroughly 
aroused.  He  was  transfusing  his  spirit  into  the  souls  of 
the  listeners.  Not  a  word  of  interruption  was  heard  as 
he  kept  on.  "  The  negro  is  in  no  sense  an  element  of 
danger  to  our  Southland ;  it  is  the  criminal  who  menaces 
our  civilization,  the  criminal  negro  and  the  criminal  white 
man.  Violence  and  corruption  in  the  political  history 
of  Dothan  have  stained  our  honor  because  we  have  al- 
lowed the  criminal  to  rule  over  us.  Whom  do  I  mean 
by  criminal  ?  "  he  exclaimed,  in  thunder  tones,  still  hold- 
ing his  audience  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand.  "  I  mean 
the  man  who  is  opposed  to  a  square  deal  for  both  white 
and  black.    Justice  knows  no  color  line." 

These  last  words  were  not  spoken  to  the  people  but 
were  hurled  into  their  ears,  and  sank  down  into  their 
spirits  by  the  well-nigh  inspired  orator. 

Donald  then  reviewed  the  history  of  the  state  for  the 
past  forty  years  and  spoke  of  the  part  in  its  development 
which  the  black  man  had  taken.  "  In  the  old  days,"  he 
continued,  "  our  fathers  worked  for  the  civilization  and 
Christianization  of  the  negro  slaves.  God's  providence 
has  plainly  entrusted  the  fate  of  the  negro  to  the  South, 
and,  even  if  we  would,  we  cannot  escape  the  responsi- 


284.  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

bility.  Let  us  accept  our  manifest  destiny  and  believe 
that  this  child-race  has  been  entrusted  to  us  because  we 
could  best  assist  them  in  working  out  their  racial  salva- 
tion. I  grant  that  the  presence  of  two  great  races  in 
our  land,  living  a  close  yet  divided  existence,  presents 
a  unique  situation  in  the  history  of  man,  but  the  Al- 
mighty has  His  own  purposes,  and  the  duty  of  the  strong 
to  the  weak  is  plain  as  noonday  to  the  Christian  citizen. 
The  industrial  development  and  mental  growth  of  the 
negro  race  will  mean  gain,  and  not  loss,  to  the  white 
race.  Let  us  cease  to  listen  longer  to  the  mad  ranting 
of  disordered  brains.  The  old  South  faced  the  setting 
sun.  To-day  the  young  South  greets  the  new  day  and 
hails  a  rising  sun.  There  is  a  world-movement  for  a 
better  to-morrow.  Bands  of  steel  bind  state  to  state, 
and  the  oceans  now  unite  and  no  longer  divide  land  from 
land.  Telegraph  wires,  like  living  nerves,  connect  shore 
with  shore  and  race  with  race.  The  world  is  one  neigh- 
borhood. Humanity  is  becoming  conscious  of  the  ob- 
ligations of  man  to  man.  Too  long  false  prophets  have 
declared  Cain's  murderous  answer  as  worthy  of  honor. 
Our  flag  floats  over  ten  million  black  men  to-day  but 
yesterday  fresh  from  the  African  jungle.  Shall  we  re- 
peat the  farce  of  others,  reverse  the  order  of  nature  and 
embrute  these  black  men,  or  shall  we  assist  them  by 
every  reasonable  method  to  improve  their  lot?  Let  the 
manhood  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  with  its  fifteen  hun- 
dred years  of  Christian  teaching,  answer  that  question." 
Donald  Shelby  had  himself  become  transfigured.  His 
fellow-citizens  listened  in  astonishment  to  the  noble 
words  that  poured  out  of  his  lips.  His  face  was  shin- 
ing. The  passion  of  the  square  deal  had  taken  possession 
of  his  soul.  "  Those  are  the  words  of  a  prophet,"  said 
Mr.  Durham  to  himself,  as  he  listened  with  amazement; 


A  SPEECH  THAT  MADE  HISTORY     285 

"  a  greater  than  Donald  Shelby  is  here.  It  is  a  message 
from  God." 

"  You  ought  to  have  seen  Donald  when  he  was  speak- 
ing," confided  Rose  Atkinson  to  Florence  Ashley  after- 
wards, for  Florence  had  spent  that  evening  with  Jefferson 
Lilly  at  the  hospital.  "  He  was  perfectly  grand.  I 
felt  that  some  divine  power  was  using  him  to  give  a 
message  not  only  to  Dothan  but  to  all  the  South." 

Donald  Shelby  closed  his  memorable  speech  with' 
these  words,  "  Men  have  called  the  South  old-fashioned, 
mediaeval,  provincial,  cruel,  lustful  and  cunning.  Let 
us  answer  these  maligners  not  with  words  but  with  acts, 
as  we  have  done  in  the  days  gone  by.  Let  us  show  the 
world  that  the  South  is  a  home-loving,  kind,  generous, 
and  enterprising  land.  Let  us  accept  our  destiny  and 
let  the  Anglo-Saxon  in  the  South  rise  to  the  proud 
height  of  the  noblest  civilization  ever  seen  on  the  face 
of  the  earth.  Let  us  erect  in  Dothan  a  government 
which  the  criminal  of  either  race  shall  justly  fear,  and 
which  the  honorable  citizen  of  both  races  can  justly 
praise.  Citizens  of  Dothan,  I  call  you  to  a  task  destined 
to  make  your  name  glorious  through  all  the  annals  of 
time." 

When  he  had  ceased,  Donald  was  given  another  ova- 
tion. A  number  of  the  younger  men  rushed  to  the  plat' 
form,  seized  him  in  their  arms,  and  bore  him  back  to 
his  seat  in  triumph,  while  the  audience  went  wild  with 
joy. 

The  nominations  for  the  city  officials  soon  began,  and 
the  first  name  proposed  for  Mayor  was  Honorable  Don- 
ald Shelby.  The  nomination  was  made  unanimous  with 
a  shout  of  approval  on  every  side.  The  men  nominated 
for  the  other  offices  were  known  as  men  of  unquestioned 
integrity   and  ability  and  the  erection  of  just  such  a 


286  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

government  in  Dothan  as  Donald  Shelby  had  described 
was  assured. 

When  the  meeting  broke  up,  the  nominee  for  Mayor 
was  surrounded  by  a  group  of  warm  friends  who  con- 
gratulated him  on  his  speech.  "  That  speech  has  sounded 
the  death-knell  of  Legreeism  all  over  the  South,"  said 
Mr.  Durham,  grasping  his  hand  warmly.  "  I  hail  you  as 
the  commissioned  apostle  of  the  square  deal,  which  ap- 
peals to  every  American  citizen." 

Meanwhile,  for  the  time  being,  the  Harbison  school 
was  closed.  Following  the  fire  Dr.  Furber  had  gathered 
the  students  together  and  assured  them  of  the  unanimous 
support  of  all  the  white  citizens  of  Dothan,  but  the 
shock  had  been  too  much  for  them,  and  they  begged 
to  be  allowed  to  go  home.  Seeing  that  it  would  be  use- 
less to  seek  to  reorganize  the  school  at  that  time,  Dr. 
Furber  resolved  to  dismiss  them  for  a  few  weeks,  but 
impressed  on  them  all  the  fact  that  the  institution  was 
to  be  rebuilt  larger  than  ever  and  that  the  whites  were 
to  raise  a  large  sum  of  money  in  Dothan  for  this  pur- 
pose. The  students  seemed  incredulous,  and  Dr.  Fur- 
ber was  grieved  to  see  that  the  dread  of  the  white  man 
was  still  upon  them.  One  poor  fellow  said  tremblingly, 
"  We  cannot  come  back  to  Dothan.  They  will  burn  us 
up  again." 

Soon  as  the  students  had  all  been  sent  home,  Miss 
Atkinson  decided  to  leave  for  Pittsburg  as  her  mother 
sent  her  a  telegram  every  day  urging  her  return  and  en- 
treating her  to  risk  her  life  in  Dothan  no  longer.  She 
left  Dothan  the  morning  after  the  caucus  and  did  not 
have  time  to  see  Donald  Shelby.  However,  she  left  a 
parting  message  for  him  with  Jefferson  Lilly.  "  Tell 
Mr.  Shelby,"  she  said,  "  that  I  am  no  longer  needed  in 
Dothan.     My  mission  is  finished  and  his  has  begun." 


A  SPEECH  THAT  MADE  HISTORY     287 

"  Do  you  really  think  she  has  left  Harbison  for  good?  " 
asked  Donald  in  dismay,  when  Jefferson  gave  him  Rose's 
message. 

"  She  is  satisfied  that  her  mission  in  Dothan  is  ful- 
filled. She  said  your  speech  last  night  convinced  her  of 
that." 

"  I  thought  I  had  won  my  cause  last  night,"  replied 
Donald,  mournfully,  "  but  I  fear  that  I  lost  it." 

"  Do  not  lose  heart,"  responded  his  friend.  "  Remem- 
ber '  faint  heart  ne'er  won  fair  lady.' " 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

THE   VALLEY  OF   THE   SHADOW 

"  Come  out  for  a  drive  with  me  this  morning,"  said 
Dr.  Rankin  to  Jefferson  Lilly  some  days  after  the  memor- 
able city  caucus.  Jefferson  had  almost  recovered  from 
his  injuries  and  was  stopping  at  a  down-town  hotel  when 
the  doctor  called  for  him. 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  accompany  you,"  he  exclaimed. 
"  Mr.  Shelby  still  insists  on  looking  after  affairs  for 
me  at  Harbison,  and  time  is  hanging  heavily  on  my 
hands." 

When  they  were  seated  in  the  carriage,  Dr.  Rankin 
turned  to  Jefferson  and  said  sadly,  "  I  want  you  to  visit 
Mose  Thomas  with  me.  I  am  going  to  his  house  now. 
The  poor  man  has  only  a  few  more  days  to  live." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  it,"  replied  the  other,  with  emo- 
tion. "  It  was  a  terrible  shock  but  I  had  hoped  that  he 
would  recover.  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  the  poor  fellow 
again." 

"  It  is  surely  a  sad  case,"  went  on  Dr.  Rankin.  "  I 
never  knew  a  father  who  was  more  devoted  to  a  son 
than  Mose  Thomas  to  Nafti.  Nafti's  fearful  fate  has 
almost  robbed  him  of  his  religious  faith.  I  want  you  to 
talk  to  him  and  encourage  him  all  you  can.  He  has  no 
ambition  now  to  live." 

"How  is  Martha  Thomas  getting  along?"  Jefferson 
asked,  as  they  came  in  sight  of  the  humble  negro  home. 

"  Poor  girl,"  responded  the  doctor,  "  I  fear  she  will 

288 


THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW        289 

soon  follow  her  father  to  the  grave  unless  she  can  be 
aroused  to  take  a  fresh  interest  in  life,  but  she  is  com- 
pletely crushed  by  the  tragedy." 

As  Dr.  Rankin  ushered  Jefferson  into  the  home  of 
Mose  Thomas,  he  remembered  vividly  his  previous  visit 
shortly  after  his  first  act  of  mercy  to  the  helpless  black 
stranger  by  the  wayside.  It  seemed  to  him  like  a  differ- 
ent world  since  that  day,  and  he  recognized  the  important 
part  that  Mose  Thomas  had  played  in  the  drama  of  his 
own  life.  "  But  for  this  black  man  I  should  still  be  a 
godless  ne'er-do-well,"  he  said  to  himself. 

"  Here  is  Jefferson  Lilly,  who  has  come  to  pay  you  a 
visit  this  morning,"  said  the  doctor,  cheerfully.  "  He 
has  almost  recovered  from  his  injuries  and  I  wanted  him 
to  have  a  talk  with  you." 

At  the  sight  of  Jefferson,  the  old  negro  was  overcome 
with  his  emotion.  Tears  sprang  to  his  eyes,  and  he  cov- 
ered his  face  with  his  hands. 

"  Massa  Lilly,  Massa  Lilly,  mah  heart's  broke,"  he 
sobbed. 

Jefferson  sat  down  quietly  by  the  side  of  the  stricken 
man  and  sought  to  soothe  him. 

"Don't  cry,  Mr.  Thomas,"  he  said  tenderly.  "Be 
brave  for  Martha's  sake.     Martha  needs  you  now." 

"  Mah  po'  HT  girl,"  said  the  weeping  father ;  "  she  has 
suffered  awful.  God  has  done  clear  forgot  us,  Massa 
Lilly." 

"  No,  no,"  said  Jefferson,  in  kindly  tones.  "  God's 
protecting  arms  are  around  you  and  Martha  all  the  time. 
Trust  in  Him.     He  will  take  care  of  you." 

"  I'se  use  alway  to  think  so,"  said  the  poor  man,  "  but 
now  I'se  goin'  to  die,  and  de  Lawd  is  far  away." 

The  negro  uttered  the  last  words  with  a  look  so  pa- 
thetic that  Jefferson's  heart  was  touched.     He  thought 


290  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

of  the  poem  of  Burns,  "  Man  Was  Made  to  Mourn,"  and 
remembered  how  Mose  Thomas  had  quoted  a  few  stanzas 
to  him  on  his  former  visit.  He  recalled  the  pathos  with 
which,  in  his  negro  dialect,  he  had  recited  the  last  verse: 

"  O  death,  the  poor  man's  dearest  friend, 
The  kindest  and  the  best, 
Welcome  the  hour  my  aged  limbs 
Are  laid  with  thee  at  rest. 
The  great,  the  wealthy,  fear  thy  blow, 
From  pomp  and  pleasure  torn; 
But,  Oh,  a  blest  relief  to  those 
That  weary-laden  mourn." 

"  My  poor  fellow-mortal,"  said  Jefferson  to  himself, 
as  he  gazed  at  the  hopeless  face  of  the  desolate  old 
man,  "  even  death  now  seems  to  offer  you  no  relief." 

"  Keep  your  trust  in  God,"  Jefferson  said  aloud,  after 
a  long  pause.  "  We  want  you  to  live,  Mr.  Thomas,  for 
you  can  live  happily  now.  Did  you  know  that  Legree 
has  gone  from  Dothan  forever?" 

"  Thanks  be  to  de  good  Lawd,"  responded  the  negro, 
with  a  little  animation,  which  Jefferson  was  pleased  to 
see.    "  He  was  a  bad  man,  Massa  Lilly." 

"  The  whole  community  is  happy  that  his  day  is  over 
in  Dothan,"  went  on  Jefferson,  hoping  to  arouse  the 
spirit  of  the  sick  man.  "  We  want  you  to  get  well  and 
set  a  good  example  to  the  rest  of  the  colored  folks.  We 
need  you  now  more  than  ever." 

"Was  Nafti  a  good  boy?"  abruptly  asked  Mose 
Thomas. 

Jefferson  was  a  little  surprised  at  the  question,  but 
answered  at  once,  "  He  was  a  son  to  be  proud  of.  I 
never  knew  a  better  boy  than  your  Nafti.  I  wish  you 
could  have  seen  the  crowds  at  his  funeral.  I  was  able 
to  see  some  of  the  people   from  the  window   of  the 


THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW        291 

hospital.  His  funeral  was  the  largest  ever  held  in  Do- 
than." 

"  Den  why  did  de  Lawd  let  mah  po'  Nafti  burn  to 
ashes  ?  "  inquired  the  troubled  father,  beginning  again  to 
weep.  As  he  said  this  he  drew  from  under  his  pillow 
the  little  silver  cross  which  Nafti  always  wore  and  which 
was  found,  uninjured,  amongst  his  ashes.  "  Dis  was 
his,"  he  continued,  holding  out  the  little  trinket ;  "  I'se 
give  it  to  him  mahself  de  day  he  joined  church.  O 
God,  mah  boy,  mah  po'  boy.  I'se  would  have  died  for 
you,  Nafti." 

The  negro  covered  his  face  with  his  hands  and  wept 
uncontrollably,  his  sobs  shaking  his  entire  body. 

"  Mr.  Thomas,"  said  Jefferson,  earnestly,  speaking  in 
tender  tones,  "  this  cross  reminds  us  of  Him  who  died 
for  us  all.  God  allowed  wicked  men  to  crucify  His 
own  Son  because  His  death  meant  salvation  to  men." 

"  I'se  knows  all  dat,"  said  the  other,  through  his  tears, 
seeking  in  vain  to  control  himself ;  "  I'se  read  de  Bible  all 
mah  life." 

"  Since  God  gave  His  Son  to  save  you,"  continued 
Jefferson,  "  are  you  not  willing  to  give  up  Nafti  to  help 
the  colored  race?  Didn't  you  want  Nafti  to  live  so  that 
he  could  help  the  colored  people  to  be  better  men  and 
women  ?  " 

"  I'se  sho'  did,"  answered  Mose  Thomas,  looking  in- 
tently at  Jefferson,  and  wondering  what  he  meant. 

"  Nafti  has  done  more  for  his  race  by  dying  as  he  did 
than  he  could  have  accomplished  in  a  long  life,"  said 
Jefferson  emphatically.  "  We  see  the  results  of  his  sac- 
rifice already  in  Dothan.  Harbison  is  to  be  rebuilt  on  a 
greater  scale  than  ever,  and  such  men  as  Legree  will 
never  hold  up  their  heads  in  Dothan  again.  Donald 
Shelby  is  to  be  our  next  Mayor.     Do  you  not  see  why 


292  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

God  allowed  Nafti  to  be  burned  to  death?"  asked  Jef- 
ferson, with  deep  earnestness. 

"  De  good  Lawd  sho'  gave  His  Son  for  us,"  said  the 
negro,  beginning  to  see  the  force  of  Jefferson's  argu- 
ment. "  So  youse  thinks  dat  de  Lawd  loved  Nafti  even 
if  He  didn't  save  him  from  de  fire." 

"  Certainly  God  loved  Nafti,  and  God  chose  him  for 
the  great  honor  of  martyrdom  just  as  He  chose  Abraham 
Lincoln." 

The  old  man  was  silent,  but  Jefferson  could  see  a 
change  pass  over  his  face,  and  a  peace  come  to  his  eyes 
which  showed  that  the  unfortunate  man  had  at  last  found 
some  comfort  in  his  sorrow.  He  was  silent  for  a  little 
while  and  then  he  said,  slowly,  "  Fse  so  glad  dat  dere 
is  to  be  a  new  Harbison,  but  I'se  won't  live  to  see  it." 

"  You  must  live  for  Martha's  sake,"  said  Jefferson, 
quickly. 

The  old  negro  shook  his  head  pitifully  as  he  said, 
"  I'se  can't.  De  hand  ob  death  is  on  me.  I'se  feel  it 
heah,"  and  he  laid  his  hand  over  his  heart. 

During  this  time  Dr.  Rankin  had  left  Jefferson  alone 
with  the  father  while  he  ministered  to  the  sick  daughter, 
Martha,  in  the  adjoining  room.  A  colored  nurse,  em- 
ployed by  Rose  Atkinson,  was  in  charge  of  the  stricken 
home,  and  she  was  assisting  the  doctor.  All  that  morn- 
ing Martha  was  lying  in  a  kind  of  stupor.  Just  as  the 
negro  laid  his  hand  despairingly  on  his  heart,  the  doctor 
came  into  the  room.  After  a  little  while  the  two  friends 
left,  the  doctor  speaking  a  cheering  word  to  Mose  and 
promising  to  bring  Jefferson  back  again. 

"  I  think  I  was  some  comfort  to  the  poor  old  man," 
said  Jefferson,  as  they  drove  away.  "  He  often  asked  for 
you,"  responded  the  doctor,  "  and  I  thought  you  could 
do  him  some  good,  but  I  fear  his  days  are  numbered." 


THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW       293 

That  same  afternoon  there  were  two  other  callers  at 
the  Mose  Thomas  home,  Miss  Florence  Ashley  and  Rev. 
William  Durham.  They  happened  to  meet  at  the  negro 
home,  and  they  left  together. 

"  How  little  anyone  can  do  in  a  case  like  this,"  said 
the  girl  sadly,  as  they  were  walking  down  the  street. 

"  The  sorrows  of  the  poor  father  will  soon  be  over," 
replied  Mr.  Durham.  "  I  do  not  think  he  will  survive 
more  than  a  few  days.  His  heart  has  borne  too  heavy 
a  strain." 

"  We  are  anxious  to  save  the  girl's  life,  if  possible," 
replied  Florence.  "  A  number  of  us  have  arranged  to 
send  her  to  the  seacoast  as  soon  as  she  recovers  suf- 
ficiently to  travel.  She  does  not  seem  to  care  to  get  well. 
There  is  only  one  request  she  makes.  She  begs  pitifully 
to  see  Rose  Atkinson  again.  I  am  going  to  write  to 
Rose  about  it  to-day." 

"  I  have  heard  that  Miss  Atkinson  was  not  sure  of 
returning  to  Dothan,"  said  the  minister.  "  She  left  for 
the  North  so  abruptly  that  I  did  not  have  time  to  bid 
her  good-by." 

"  Her  unexpected  departure  at  the  very  hour  of  her 
triumph  was  a  surprise  to  us  all,"  said  Florence. 

"  The  hour  of  her  triumph,"  said  Mr.  Durham.  "  I 
should  say  the  dark  hour  of  defeat." 

"  Not  at  all,"  responded  the  girl,  quickly.  "  That  fire 
at  Harbison  has  brought  all  Dothan  into  full  accord  with 
her  plans  and  hopes.  Terrible  as  the  price  was,  the  re- 
sults are  worth  it  all,  as  Mr.  Lilly  has  said  to  me  many 
times." 

"  It  was  surely  a  fearful  price,"  said  Mr.  Durham, 
gravely.  "  Nafti's  death  means  the  blotting  out  of  the 
whole  Thomas  family,  I  fear." 

After  a  little  while  Mr.  Durham  changed  the  subject 


294  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

by  saying,  "  I  have  been  expecting  your  father  to  call  on 
me,  Miss  Ashley." 

"  Poor  father,"  answered  the  girl  in  some  confusion ; 
"  he  is  really  ashamed  to  meet  you  in  private.  He  has 
told  mamma  and  me  all  about  it.  He  cannot  now  un- 
derstand how  he  ever  held  such  views  as  he  used  to  de- 
fend so  vigorously,  but  he  was  sincere,  as  you  know,  and 
those  foolish  ideas  about  the  negroes  are  widespread 
amongst  a  certain  class  of  respectable  people." 

"  Tell  him  to  call,"  said  Mr.  Durham,  heartily.  "  I 
always  honored  your  father  as  a  man  of  honest  convic- 
tions and  I  knew  he  would  not  long  keep  company  with 
Peter  Legree." 

"  What  a  blessing  that  Mr.  Legree  left  Dothan  as  he 
did,"  said  the  girl,  with  a  shudder.  "  Do  they  know 
where  he  is  ?  " 

"  He  was  last  heard  of  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ham- 
bright  in  North  Carolina,  disguised  as  a  colored  man, 
but  he  soon  disappeared  again.  I  expect  he  will  join 
the  criminal  class  in  some  of  our  large  cities.  He  was  a 
modern  scalawag  and  his  ignoble  end  is  a  warning  to 
all  such  creatures  in  the  South." 

"  I  am  encouraged  to  believe,"  responded  Florence  Ash- 
lay,  "  that  creatures  like  Legree  are  being  branded  as 
criminals  everywhere.  We  have  surely  had  a  terrible  les- 
son here  in  Dothan  from  our  experience  with  him." 
Unconsciously,  the  girl  was  thinking  of  her  own  long 
separation  from  Jefferson,  which  she  now  attributed  to 
Legree  and  his  influence. 

"What  are  Jefferson  Lilly's  plans  for  the  future?" 
asked  the  minister,  suddenly.  The  girl  blushed  a  rosy 
red  at  the  unexpected  question. 

"  Have  you  not  seen  him  lately  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  No,"  said  Mr.  Durham  with  a  smile,  "  but  I  was 


THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW        295 

wondering  if  he  also  thought  that  his  work  at  Harbison 
was  finished  the  same  as  Miss  Atkinson." 

"  No,"  responded  Florence.  "  He  thinks  that  his 
work  has  just  begun.  Did  you  not  know  that  Dr.  Fur- 
ber  intends  to  resign,  and  that  Jefferson  Lilly  is  to  be  the 
new  President  of  Harbison?" 

"  I  had  not  heard  of  it,"  said  the  minister,  in  amaze- 
ment. "  What  a  change  a  few  months  make  some- 
times in  human  destiny.  How  unseen  is  the  future. 
I  am  greatly  astonished  at  this  news,  but  I  am  also  de- 
lighted. Does  this  mean  that  I  am  to  congratulate  you 
as  well  as  him  on  this  honor?  " 

"Jefferson  and  I  expect  to  have  a  quiet  wedding  in 
about  two  weeks,"  said  the  girl,  slowly.  "  I  urged  him 
to  accept  the  Presidency  of  Harbison."  Mr.  Durham 
was  silent  for  a  few  moments  and  spoke  slowly,  "  You 
did  right.  The  time  will  come  when  all  negro  institu- 
tions can  be  entrusted  to  the  negroes,  but  for  the  present 
they  need  our  guidance  and  help,  in  part,  at  least.  I 
am  now  convinced  that  the  man  who  made  the  first  real 
Christian  effort  to  solve  the  negro  problem  in  the  South 
was  General  Armstrong.  When  he  founded  Hampton 
Institute  in  Virginia,  and  became  its  head,  he  built  better 
than  he  knew.  I  am  proud  to  think  that  Jefferson  Lilly 
is  a  native  of  Alabama.  I  congratulate  you  both,  and 
wish  you  all  joy  and  success  in  your  noble  life-work." 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  Jefferson  Lilly  succeeded  Dr. 
Furber  as  the  President  of  Harbison,  and  stranger  still, 
Florence  Ashley  urged  him  to  accept  the  position  when 
it  was  first  offered  to  him,  and  he  was  inclined  to  refuse 
the  responsibility.  Strangest  of  all,  Mr.  Ashley  con- 
sented to  an  early  wedding  between  his  daughter  and 
the  President  of  an  institution  which  sought  to  educate 
and  train  the   sons  and   daughters  of  the   negro  race. 


296  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

Since  the  day  when  he  raked  the  ashes  of  burnt  negro 
students  out  of  the  hot  embers  of  Harbison,  Mr.  Ashley 
had  a  remarkable  interest  in  negro  educational  institu- 
tions of  all  kinds.  In  a  long  conversation  with  Jefferson 
Lilly  he  suggested  some  ideas  to  Jefferson  regarding  the 
proper  education  of  the  negro  which  showed  the  new 
President  of  Harbison  that  he  would  have  an  able  coun- 
selor in  his  future  father-in-law. 

"  I  was  reading  to-day  of  a  wise  suggestion,"  said  Mr. 
Ashley,  "  regarding  a  central  university  as  a  great  need 
to-day  in  negro  education.  Such  a  university  could  be 
established  in  one  of  our  large  cities,  such  as  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  and  it  would  become  a  kind  of  educational 
laboratory,  a  university  of  practical  investigation  for  all 
lines  of  negro  life,  as  the  author  stated.  If  such  a  uni- 
versity were  established  where  mature  students  of  char- 
acter and  ability  could  make  a  full  study  of  the  race 
life  of  the  negro  from  the  standpoints  of  anthropology 
and  psychology,  as  well  as  history,  it  would  be  of  ines- 
timable value.  Their  results  would  be  absolutely  free 
from  race  prejudice,  at  least,  antagonistic  race  prejudice, 
and  the  negroes  would  be  encouraged  to  face  the  facts 
of  the  life  of  their  race  exactly  as  they  are.  The  de- 
moralizing evils  of  a  social  nature,  the  destroying  dis- 
eases, the  mockery  of  religion  in  some  negro  churches, 
and  the  gross  practices  of  some  of  the  clergy  could  all  be 
studied  with  a  view  to  overcoming  these  evils  which  are 
blighting  such  multitudes." 

14 1  have  heard  of  such  a  suggestion  before,"  responded 
Jefferson,  "  and  I  am  in  favor  of  it.  I  believe  that  as 
time  goes  on  every  institution  such  as  Harbison  can  be 
turned  over  to  the  colored  race,  but  for  the  present  to 
turn  over  the  entire  education  of  the  blacks  to  the  ne- 
groes themselves  would  be  criminal   folly.     They  need 


THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW        297 

our  sympathy  and  oversight  until  the  childhood  of  the 
race  is  past." 

A  few  days  after  the  visit  of  Jefferson  Lilly  to  the 
home  of  Mose  Thomas  the  old  negro  slipped  away  to  a 
better  world.  The  funeral  at  the  colored  church,  which 
was  attended  by  a  large  number  of  prominent  whites, 
showed  the  esteem  in  which  this  humble  negro  laborer 
was  held.  Character,  no  matter  where  it  is  found,  gains 
for  itself  the  approbation  of  men,  and  the  sorrow  at  the 
death  of  Mose  was  genuine.  After  her  father's  death, 
the  unfortunate  Martha,  now  left  alone  in  the  world, 
sank  slowly  but  surely.  Her  one  desire  was  to  see  Rose 
Atkinson,  and  at  the  urgent  request  of  Florence  Ashley 
the  young  Pittsburger  decided  to  make  the  long  journey 
South  in  order  to  comfort  the  dying  young  negress.  The 
meeting  of  the  two  friends  was  pathetic.  Rose  was 
touched  to  see  how  the  girl  had  wasted  away,  remem- 
bering how  strong  and  bright  she  had  been  only  a  few 
months  before.  Martha  was  greatly  pleased  to  see  her, 
and  thanked  her,  with  trembling  voice,  for  coming  to  see 
her.  "  I  wanted  to  bid  you  good-by,"  said  the  girl. 
"  After  all  your  kindness  to  me  and  Nafti  I  felt  that  I 
could  not  die  without  telling  you  how  much  I  had  ap- 
preciated it  all.  I  am  glad  to  go.  I  will  join  Nafti 
again,  and  father,  and  we  will  wait  for  you." 

Rose  tried  to  cheer  her,  and  spoke  of  the  kind  offer 
of  the  white  ladies  of  Dothan  who  wished  to  send  her 
to  the  seacoast.  It  was  all  in  vain,  and  the  kind-hearted 
patroness  of  Harbison  soon  saw  that  the  wounds  in  the 
sensitive  soul  of  Martha  Thomas  had  been  too  great. 
At  the  request  of  Rose  Atkinson,  she  was  buried  beside 
the  ashes  of  her  brother,  Nafti,  on  the  Harbison  campus. 
"  She  was  a  martyr  as  well  as  her  brother,  and  she  suf- 
fered more,"  Rose  urged. 


298  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

"  We  are  all  so  pleased  to  know  you  will  be  present  at 
the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  our  new  Harbison," 
said  Florence  Ashley,  or  rather  Mrs.  Jefferson  Lilly,  to 
Rose  a  day  or  two  after  the  funeral  of  Martha  Thomas. 

"  I  will  be  glad  to  be  there,"  answered  Rose,  "  but  I 
should  not  have  returned  to  Alabama  at  this  time  had  it 
not  been  for  your  letter  about  Martha.  Since  you  and 
Jefferson  are  to  be  in  charge  I  am  fully  convinced  that 
my  work  in  Dothan  is  done." 

"  Donald  Shelby  does  not  think  your  presence  is  no 
longer  needed.  He  has  been  urging  Jefferson  to  beg 
you  to  remain  in  Dothan,  if  only  as  an  inspiration." 

Rose  blushed,  and  answered  lightly,  "  These  Southern 
young  men  are  great  flatterers.  You  do  not  need  me 
here  any  longer.  I  expect  to  return  to  Pittsburg  in  a 
few  days,  and  write  a  little  book  on  my  experiences  in 
Dothan.  I  think  that  a  full  account  of  our  Harbison 
sorrows  and  triumphs  will  help  the  cause." 

"  You  will  change  your  mind  about  that,"  answered 
the  young  wife  of  Jefferson  Lilly,  "  after  our  new 
Mayor,  Donald  Shelby,  has  had  a  talk  with  you." 

"  We  will  see  about  that,"  said  Rose,  as  they  parted. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

VICTORY   FOR   THE  SOUTH 

Dothan  was  astir  early  on  the  day  when  the  corner 
stone  of  the  new  Harbison  was  to  be  laid.  It  was  to  be 
a  great  day  in  the  Alabama  town,  and  a  number  of  visitors 
were  present  from  all  parts  of  the  State.  Prominent 
amongst  the  visitors  was  the  Governor  of  Alabama,  who 
was  expected  to  make  an  address.  A  long  procession, 
headed  by  the  Dothan  Military  Band,  formed  down  town, 
and  proceeded  to  the  Harbison  campus.  The  Governor 
sat  in  a  carriage  with  the  Mayor  of  Dothan,  Honora- 
ble Donald  Shelby,  and  the  enthusiasm  of  the  citizens, 
as  the  carriage  passed  the  throngs  on  the  streets,  showed 
that  these  two  executives  were  immensely  popular  with 
the  people.  Arrived  at  the  Harbison  grounds,  the  exer- 
cises were  commenced  with  a  simple  invocation  by  Rev. 
William  Durham,  after  which  the  new  President  of  Har- 
bison, Jefferson  Lilly,  made  a  short  address,  thanking  the 
people  for  their  attendance  in  such  large  numbers,  and 
assuring  them  that  he  would  endeavor  to  make  the  new 
Harbison  one  of  the  proudest  institutions  of  their  beau- 
tiiul  city. 

"  If  there  was  ever  any  doubt  of  the  interest  of  the 
white  people  of  Dothan  in  the  progress  and  improvement 
of  the  negro  race,  there  can  be  no  doubt  henceforth,"  ex- 
claimed Jefferson.  "  Dothan  is  honoring  herself,  hon- 
oring the  Southland,  and  honoring  our  common  hu- 
manity in  uniting  to-day  to  lay  the  corner  stone  of 
the    great    building   which    will    rise    on    this    spot    as 

299 


300  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

a  monument  to  your  generosity  and  patriotism  and 
largeness  of  heart.  When  I  was  asked  to  accept  the 
presidency  of  this  institution  at  this  time  of  enlarge- 
ment, I  hesitated,  but  the  unanimous  support  of  the 
white  citizens  of  Dothan  assures  me  that  my  labors  will 
be  easy  and  my  burdens  will  be  light.  Harbison  Insti- 
tute is  no  experiment.  Such  institutions  have  been  in- 
creasing in  our  land  for  the  past  fifty  years,  and  the 
good  accomplished  is  incalculable.  We  of  the  South  are 
learning  more  and  more  every  day  that  a  hopeful  and 
aspiring  race  is  easier  to  live  with,  safer,  and  more 
profitable  in  every  way  than  an  ignorant  and  besotted 
people.  The  policy  of  Legree  henceforth  is  execrated 
in  Dothan."  At  these  bold  words  the  vast  throng  broke 
in  loudest  cheers,  which  continued  so  long  that  Rose 
Atkinson  said  to  herself,  as  she  sat  in  the  Waynor  car- 
riage on  the  edge  of  the  crowd,  "  How  splendid  this  is. 
I  love  these  people  with  all  my  heart." 

After  Jefferson  had  concluded,  Mayor  Donald  Shelby 
arose,  and  with  a  few  words  of  heartiest  commendation  of 
the  past  work  of  Harbison  and  its  future  policy,  he  intro- 
duced the  Governor.  The  speech  of  the  chief  executive 
of  Alabama  was  an  earnest  appeal  for  cordial  support 
of  every  effort  making  for  the  improvement  of  the  negro 
race.  "  Just  such  an  institution  as  Harbison  gave  us  one 
of  the  best  assets  which  Alabama  possesses  to-day," 
exclaimed  the  Governor ;  "  I  mean  Booker  T.  Washing- 
ton, President  of  our  noble  Tuskegee  Institute."  At 
the  mention  of  the  renowned  negro  educator's  name  a 
burst  of  applause  broke  all  over  the  throngs  of  people, 
white  and  black,  and  it  was  some  minutes  before  the 
speaker  could  resume.  "  From  Harbison  I  trust  we  can 
send  forth  to  our  sister  states  men  like  President  Wash- 


VICTORY  FOR  THE  SOUTH  301 

ington,  who  will  be  qualified  to  lead  the  teeming  millions 
of  our  negro  fellow-citizens  on  the  upward  path  that  will 
mean  prosperity  of  every  kind  for  the  beautiful  South- 
land." 

On  the  evening  of  that  eventful  day,  Donald  Shelby, 
as  Mayor  of  the  city,  escorted  the  Governor  to  the 
Waynor  mansion,  where  a  reception  was  to  be  held  in 
his  honor.  As  they  drove  up  the  avenue  the  mind  of 
Donald  went  back  to  the  eventful  evening  when  he  had 
first  met  Rose  Atkinson,  and  heard  her  sing,  "  The  Best 
We  Have."  "  I  well  remember  how  I  feared  that  she  had 
come  amongst  us  to  arouse  bitter  feeling  and  increase 
the  race  prejudice  in  Dothan,  but  I  find  that  the  beau- 
tiful Northerner  has  brought  us  peace  and  racial  self- 
respect.  I  wonder  if  I  can  persuade  her  to  remain  in^ 
Dothan." 

During  the  evening  Donald  had  an  opportunity  to  es- 
cort Rose  to  the  arbor  on  the  lawn  where  Jefferson  and 
Florence  sat  together  on  the  night  that  Rose  Atkinson 
made  her  debut  in  Dothan  society.  In  their  embowered 
seclusion  they  sat  for  a  while  in  silence,  watching  the 
animated  scene  on  the  broad  veranda  and  in  the  house. 

"  I  never  congratulated  you  yet  on  your  wonderful 
speech  at  the  caucus,"  said  Rose  at  length.  "  I  have 
been  telling  all  my  Pittsburg  friends  about  your  ad- 
dress." 

"  I  have  sometimes  thought  that  my  speech  that  night 
was  a  mistake,"  answered  Donald  slowly,  speaking  in  a 
low  voice. 

"Why  is  that,  Mr.  Shelby?"  inquired  Rose  quickly. 
"  You  surely  do  not  mean  to  say  your  sentiments  have 
changed  since  you  have  become  Mayor  of  Dothan." 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  Donald,  **  but  I  understand  that 


302  THE  TESTING  FIRE 

after  you  heard  my  speech  that  night  you  concluded  that 
your  work  in  Dothan  was  finished." 

The  girl  blushed  in  the  darkness  but  was  silent. 

"  If  that  is  so,"  went  on  Donald,  "  I  am  sorry  I  spoke 
so  well,  for  I  want  you  to  remain  in  Dothan." 

"  There  is  nothing  for  me  to  do  here  now,"  responded 
Rose.  "  Florence  has  taken  my  place  at  Harbison,  and, 
as  a  stranger,  I  think  I  would  only  hinder  the  growth  of 
proper  race  sentiment.  Everything  about  Harbison  is 
prospering,  and  its  prospects  are  unclouded." 

"  I  want  you  to  remain  in  Dothan  for  my  own  sake," 
said  Donald,  turning  towards  the  Northern  girl,  and 
speaking  with  great  earnestness.  "  Rose,"  he  continued, 
"  you  remember  how  I  promised  to  be  your  friend  when 
we  first  met." 

"  And  a  friend  you  have  been,  Mr.  Shelby,"  answered 
the  girl,  heartily.  "  I  will  never  forget  your  kindness  to 
me. 

"  I  told  you  once  that  I  wanted  to  be  more  than  a 
friend,"  he  went  on,  speaking  softly.  "  Will  you  be  my 
wife?" 

As  he  said  these  words  he  caught  both  her  hands  in 
his,  and  looked  into  her  face.  She  lowered  her  eyes  be- 
fore his  ardent  look  which  she  could  feel  in  the  dark- 
ness of  the  arbor,  but  she  was  silent.  He  drew  her  to- 
wards him,  and  she  did  not  resist.  A  moment  later  he 
had  covered  her  face  with  kisses,  while  she  murmured, 
"  Donald,  I  will  stay  in  Dothan." 

"  Rose,  Rose,"  someone  cried  from  the  veranda. 

"  That  is  Aunt  Waynor  calling,"  said  the  girl,  struggling 
to  her  feet.  "  I  promised  to  sing  for  the  Governor.  He 
has  asked  me  to  sing,  '  The  Best  You  Have.'  You  re- 
member I  sang  it  before.     I  must  hurry  in." 

She  was  gone,  and   Donald   Shelby   slowly   followed 


VICTORY  FOR  THE  SOUTH  303 

her  towards  the  house,  his  whole  soul  filled  with  delight. 
He  looked  up  at  the  silent  stars  and  murmured,  as  others 
have  murmured  like  him  ten  thousand  times,  "  Oh,  I  just 
love  everybody  to-night." 

When  he  reached  the  veranda,  Mrs.  Jefferson  Lilly 
was  at  the  piano,  and  Rose  was  standing  beside  her.  She 
sang  once  more  the  song  which  had  charmed  Donald  on 
that  first  night  of  their  meeting.  Breathless  the  com- 
pany listened  as  she  sang  verse  after  verse : 

"  For  life  is  the  mirror  of  king  and  slave, 
'Tis  just  what  we  are  and  do; 
Then  give  to  the  world  the  best  you  have, 
And  the  best  will  come  back  to  you." 

"  It  is  all  true ;  it  is  all  true,"  said  Donald  to  himself. 

[A.  little  later  he  met  Jefferson  Lilly  and  whispered  in 
his  ear,  "  Congratulate  me,  Jefferson,  the  North  has  sur- 
rendered to  the  South." 

"  You  mean  that  the  North  and  South  are  now  one," 
answered  his  friend. 


THE   END 


